What you need to know about the Omicron variant
Cases of COVID-19 have increased due to the rapidly spreading Omicron variant.
Dr. Titus Daniels, MD MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, infectious diseases physician and epidemiologist with Vanderbilt University Medical Center, practicing at Tennova Healthcare - Clarksville, shares what you need to know about the virus.
Omicron is a new variant of COVID-19. This new variant has several features that are different from prior variants. Omicron spreads more easily meaning that more people are infected at one time. It can escape immune protection from a prior infection or not being fully vaccinated with a booster.
“Vaccination remains the best way to reduce the spread of the virus and protect yourself and others from serious illness,” Dr. Daniels said. “Current COVID-19 vaccines still are very effective in reducing infection, illness, and severity of infection caused by the Omicron variant. Vaccination with a booster is what offers the best protection. What we are seeing now is that even if you get infected after being vaccinated, you are much, much less likely to have serious symptoms or need to be hospitalized. The majority of patients with COVID in hospitals today are unvaccinated.”
Dr. Daniels advises his family, friends and patients to get vaccinated and boosted. It is never too late to start if you have not yet been vaccinated. It is also important to follow proven practices for reducing the spread of infection: frequent hand washing, remaining home when you are sick and wearing a well-fitted mask in crowded spaces or public indoor areas. Using a KN95 or surgical mask has been found to be more effective than cloth masks – though a well-fitted mask that is worn properly and consistently is the most important use of any mask.
The CDC recommends COVID-19 booster shots for individuals 12 and older five months after the completion of the initial series. To find the most convenient locations to receive the vaccine or booster, visit vaccines.gov.
This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: What you need to know about the Omicron variant
