What about omicron? Answers to your questions about this new variant
Two years into a pandemic that weighs heavily on the hearts, minds and health of our community, the arrival of the omicron variant — another mutated form of the virus that causes COVID-19 — is not the news anyone wants to hear, particularly amid long-awaited holiday celebrations. Yet while omicron is unwelcome, it is not unexpected.
“New COVID-19 variants are inevitable,” says Michael Myint, MD, an infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist with MultiCare. “With much of the world not being vaccinated yet, we anticipate that new variants will continue to evolve. But the good news is that we have good global surveillance in place, so as they pop up, we can monitor and address them.”
What do we know about this new variant? How well do current vaccines and boosters protect against it? Below Dr. Myint and Mary Fairchok, MD, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Mary Bridge Children’s, answer these questions and more about omicron.
Is omicron more contagious than delta?
Mounting evidence shows that omicron is more contagious than delta and other previous strains of the virus. “Omicron spreads easily and it spreads fast. In the United Kingdom, cases are now doubling every two days which is astonishingly rapid,” says Dr. Fairchok.
Preliminary research out of Hong Kong indicates that one reason omicron may be more contagious are mutations that have sped up the rate at which the virus multiplies. When viruses enter the human body, they start duplicating themselves so that those virus copies can then go on to infect other people. The Hong Kong study found that omicron duplicates 70 times faster in a person’s airway than delta.
At least 12 omicron cases have been confirmed across Washington state as of Dec. 20, pointing to significant community spread. Due to its high degree of infectiousness, omicron has now become the dominant variant in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Does omicron cause more severe illness?
While omicron is more contagious, it does not seem to be making people sicker than previous variants, although there is not enough data available yet to be sure.
“We are still learning about the severity of omicron, but preliminary information from South Africa suggests that it may cause milder illness than earlier strains of the virus, with a smaller percentage of people requiring hospitalization,” says Dr. Fairchok. “However, so far it is unclear if this will be the same for other populations. Doctors in the UK, where omicron has been rapidly surging, have not yet been able to determine if the same holds true for their patients.”
If omicron seems to cause milder illness, then what’s the concern?
We don’t yet have enough information to know how severe omicron will be in the U.S. However, even if omicron does cause milder illness, hospitals can still become overwhelmed due to the highly contagious nature of this variant.
For example, if only 100 people get infected with a virus and 5 percent of them have to go to the hospital, that’s only five hospitalizations. If a more infectious virus results in 10,000 infections and only 1 percent have to go to the hospital, that’s 100 hospitalizations — or 20 times as many.
“It’s important to recognize that even if a smaller percentage of people require hospital care, the total number of deaths or hospitalizations could be staggering because omicron is so highly infectious,” says Dr. Fairchok. “This is why it’s important for everyone who qualifies to get vaccinated and get their booster shot.”
How well to do vaccines and boosters work against omicron?
The COVID-19 vaccines appear to be somewhat effective against the new variant, although they are less effective against omicron than previous strains. A preliminary UK study found that two doses of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna) are between 30 to 40 percent effective at preventing symptomatic infections. However, a booster shot increased that level of effectiveness to over 70 percent. Studies are ongoing, but all three vaccines, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, seem to protect against severe disease, death and hospitalization.
“No vaccine is 100 percent effective. There are going to be some breakthrough infections — when a person who has been vaccinated contracts COVID-19,” says Dr. Myint. “But those breakthrough infections are less likely if you ‘re vaccinated and you have received your booster. Being fully vaccinated also significantly lowers the chances you will require hospital care.”
I’ve already had COVID-19. Do I still need to get a vaccine or booster?
Yes, even if you’ve had a COVID-19 infection before, it’s still very important to get vaccinated and to get a booster shot. One South African study found that re-infection rates were three times higher with omicron than with delta. Data from the UK also found that reinfection rates were 5.4 times more common with omicron than with past variants, which means that the protection conferred by a previous infection may be as low as 19 percent.
“Immunity — your level of protection — goes down over time, whether that immunity came from the primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine or a previous infection,” says Dr. Myint. “Booster shots can bring up that level of immunity so that you are better protected.”
Are vaccine manufacturers creating a booster shot specific to omicron — and should I wait to get it?
While variant-specific booster shots are in development, you should not wait — get your booster shot as soon as you are eligible.
“Omicron is spreading very quickly, and we do know that the current booster shots work against it, so I strongly recommend getting one as soon as it’s time for you to do so,” says Dr. Myint.
How well do current COVID-19 treatments work against omicron?
Research is underway to determine how effective existing COVID-19 medications and treatments are in addressing the omicron variant. So far, those study results have been mixed.
“Some monoclonal antibody treatments may not work as well against omicron while antivirals and anti-inflammatory medications are still likely to be effective,” says Dr. Myint. “MultiCare has a medical advisory group that routinely examines the literature about existing therapies and newly available drugs to ensure that we’re offering the best treatments possible for COVID-19.”
How can I best protect myself and my loved ones?
While omicron may be a new COVID-19 variant, the tactics to prevent the spread of this virus remain the same:
- Get vaccinated and get your booster shot.
- Wear a cloth or disposable surgical-style mask in public places.
- Keep gatherings with those outside your household small and outdoors if possible.
- Stay home and get tested for COVID-19 at the first sign of symptoms.
Visit MultiCare’s COVID-19 vaccine page to learn how to get a vaccine or booster shot for your or your family members at a MultiCare or Mary Bridge Children’s location near you.
