16 Dec What we know about Omicron

On Thursday, December 9, the FDA authorized booster shots of the Pfizer vaccine for 16 and 17 year-olds, six months after receiving their second shot. Pfizer also announced this week that lab tests show that a booster shot of its vaccine offers strong protection against the new variant, Omicron.

Omicron has reached Oregon. It’s been detected in Washington and Multnomah Counties. Scientists are studying the variant and while much is unknown, the CDC has offered insight to a few preliminary questions:

• How easily does Omicron spread? The Omicron variant likely will spread more easily than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and how easily Omicron spreads compared to Delta remains unknown. CDC expects that anyone with Omicron infection can spread the virus to others, even if they are vaccinated or don’t have symptoms.
• Will Omicron cause more severe illness? More data are needed to know if Omicron infections, and especially reinfections and breakthrough infections in people who are fully vaccinated, cause more severe illness or death than infection with other variants.
• Will vaccines work against Omicron? Current vaccines are expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths due to infection with the Omicron variant. However, breakthrough infections in people who are fully vaccinated are likely to occur. With other variants, like Delta, vaccines have remained effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. 

While we wait to learn more, we do know that frequent hand washing, wearing a mask, getting the vaccine and a booster shot are ways to protect yourself from getting sick.

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