Omicron, case counts, and the impact of vaccines

[amycurl]

This link was just shared with me from the lead public health nurse in our local public health department. Great data and stats. While it shows that Omicron is spreading incredibly quickly, leading to huge jumps in case rates, vaccines are doing their job at keeping people out of the hospital and minimizing deaths. Pretty graphs, too.

I am less concerned about rising case rates; I am more concerned about hospitalization and death rates. Vaccines seem to still be keeping those under control, even with Omicron (they're still rising, but not as proportionally to the rising case rates as we've seen in the past when we've had lower vaccination rates.) Please consider getting boosted, even if you have acquired immunity and the full two-dose vaccine regimen. (That's discussed in the article, too.)

I'm not going to argue with people about this data, but I know some of you are interested in facts, and this seemed like a good source of them.

 

[Brett]

This link was just shared with me from the lead public health nurse in our local public health department. Great data and stats. While it shows that Omicron is spreading incredibly quickly, leading to huge jumps in case rates, vaccines are doing their job at keeping people out of the hospital and minimizing deaths. Pretty graphs, too.

I am less concerned about rising case rates; I am more concerned about hospitalization and death rates. Vaccines seem to still be keeping those under control, even with Omicron (they're still rising, but not as proportionally to the rising case rates as we've seen in the past when we've had lower vaccination rates.) Please consider getting boosted, even if you have acquired immunity and the full two-dose vaccine regimen. (That's discussed in the article, too.)

I'm not going to argue with people about this data, but I know some of you are interested in facts, and this seemed like a good source of them.

"Those with vaccinations and boosters will be most protected"

 

[Superchief]

I found this paragraph regarding boosters to be encouraging. Hopefully the protection level from boosters will last a lot longer than the first two doses.

"Boosters also generate a much broader level of immunity. In other words, boosters develop antibodies against more parts of the virus than the primary series. A lab study yesterday confirmed. The authors noted:

“The antibody response after boosting is fundamentally different than it was before. It's not just raising the level of the existing antibodies, it's doing a lot more than that. Calling the third shot a booster is oversimplifying.”

Edit Note: It appears that the conclusions regarding the antibody expanded coverage are based on 'lab results', but I couldn't open the file describing the lab test methodology. Lab studies often don't translate to actual performance.

 

[Superchief]

I just hope that the protection from the booster lasts a lot longer than the initial 2 dose regimen. I don't recall any other 'vaccine' that loses its efficacy after less than six months. Even flu shots only need to be given annually and they are always modified to cover emerging strains.

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Omicron is really messing with the NFL starting lineups.
Probably making a lot of bookies sick

 

[Superchief]

Omicron is really messing with the NFL starting lineups.
Probably making a lot of bookies sick

I doubt that most of the NFL cases are Delta, since it is too early for a substantial number of players to be exposed to Omicron. The cold weather states are experiencing big case increases with Delta.

 

[bluehende]

I just hope that the protection from the booster lasts a lot longer than the initial 2 dose regimen. I don't recall any other 'vaccine' that loses its efficacy after less than six months. Even flu shots only need to be given annually and they are always modified to cover emerging strains.

The flu shot wanes quicker than the covid. The difference is there is no flu in the summer. That is why it is not recommended for those over 65 to get that shot early. If you do you may lose your immunity before flu season ends.

 

[MdRef]

The flu shot wanes quicker than the covid. The difference is there is no flu in the summer. That is why it is not recommended for those over 65 to get that shot early. If you do you may lose your immunity before flu season ends.

The difference is there is no flu in the summer?

Seasonal flu viruses are detected year-round in the United States. It's just that flu viruses are most common during the fall and winter.

The traditional "flu season" peaking in the winter could be the fact that people spend more time indoors. This makes them more likely to share an enclosed space with infected individuals. Additionally, lower levels of vitamin D due to less exposure to sunlight could possibly contribute to an increased susceptibility to infection.

 

[Brett]

Omicron is really messing with the NFL starting lineups.
Probably making a lot of bookies sick

yep - delayed games could be good for some teams

 

[mdurette]

From my own personal situation right now.
DH and 4 Co-Workers went out for dinner last Monday.
4 out of the 5 have tested postive so far (unsure what varient)
3 had vacinnations and so far are reporting cold-like symptoms (DH included)
1 has no vaccine and reported "It feels like someone tied me to the back of the truck and drove me down the highway" Also states he feels like his body goes from 10 below to 150 degrees in a minutes time.

 

[amycurl]

Yes, this seems to jibe with the other personal experience stories I've heard with Omicron....vaxxed=positive, but mild to no symptoms; un-vaxxed=more severe symptoms, more likely to be hospitalized (but less so than with Delta.)

We'll see.....