What We Ought to Know about the Omicron Variant (Part 2)
After discussing last week the Omicron variant as it has become a health concern, please allow me to discuss this variant further for the information of our fellow Boholanos here and abroad.
I would like to share with everyone that it is confirmed that Omicron variant is more infectious than previous variants but presents milder symptoms.
Even if the Omicron variant causes a mild form of the Coronavirus disease (Covid), people should follow health protocol for the following reasons:
1. The Omicron variant can still cause a severe form of Covid. It is a matter of simple math: more severe infections would mean more chances of a severe form of the disease. Unvaccinated individuals are more likely to land in a hospital due to a severe form of the disease that may need intensive care.
2. Just because one has a mild form of Covid does not mean that he/she is not a health threat to other people. Even if one is vaccinated or has antibodies from the previous infection, he/she can still develop a mild form of the disease and can still infect someone else that might develop critical or severe Covid.
3. The long term effects of the Omicron variant remain unknown. We know that survivors of older variants, experience lingering and debilitating post-Covid symptoms that range from exercise intolerance to dyspnea [shortness of breath] even at rest. This phenomenon is called “long Covid”. Data also suggest that some male Covid survivors suffer from low sperm count.
4. Another reason to avoid the Omicron variant is the shortage of medications and hospital understaffing. This is common during a surge in Covid cases. When a surge happens, doctors have to ration available resources prioritizing the patient who is likely to survive. In this scenario, doctors are given the burden to decide who will live and who will die, and this is a nightmare for every physician.
5. In a situation where there are more infections, it results to more variants emerging. A new variant is likely to develop if there are more infections. There is no assurance that the next variant will be more benign.
These are the top reasons, I believe, people should consider in order for them to get vaccinated and get boosters.
Most of all, everyone should remember that health protocol should be strictly followed.
ORIGINAL BULLETS
Omicron
• it is confirmed that omicron is more infectious but causes milder illness compared to previous variants
• even if it causes milder disease, don’t get infected for the following reasons
1) Omicron can still causes severe disease.
• Simple math, if there is more infections there will be more severe disease
• unvaccinated are more likely to be hospitalized and need intensive care
2) Just because you have mild disease, doesn’t mean you are not a threat to other.
Even if you are vaccinated or have antibody from previous infection, you can still develop mild disease and infect someone else that might develop critical covid19.
- Long term effects of omicron are still not known
• survivors of previous covid19 variants experience lingering and debilitating post covid symptoms that ranges from exercise intolerance to dyspnea even at rest. This phenomena is called “Long Covid”.
Data also suggest that some male covid19 survivors suffer from low sperm count - Shortage of medications and hospital understaffing is common during covid19 surge.
When surge happens, doctors have to ration available resources prioritizing the patient who are likely to survive. In this scenario, doctors were given the burden to decide who will live and who will die (a nightmare for every physician).
5) the more infections there is, the higher the chances of new variants.
• New variant is likely to develop if there is more infections.
• there is no assurance that the next variant will be more benign