The new variant primarily affects the upper respiratory tract, and not the lower respiratory tract, as it was with the Delta and earlier variants.
In vaccinated Europe, one-third drop in hospital admissions. This could be explained by vaccination-mitigated infection, infection in younger adults (under 40), and a milder disposition of the Omikron, as the risk of death is reduced by two-thirds, including in vaccinated people.
Symptoms of Omicron infection given as a percentage of the frequency of occurrence:
- Qatar 73%
- Headache 68%
- Fatigue 64%
- Dyspnoea 60%
- Sore throat 60%
- Persistent cough 44%
- Change of voice timbre 36%
- Cold blows and chills 30%
- Fever 29%
- Daze 28%
- Brain fog 24%
- Disturbed smell 23%
- Muscle aches 23%
- Anorexia nervosa 21%
- Lack of smell 19%
- Chest pain 19%
- Lymphadenopathy 19%
- Bad mood 16%.
The efficacy of 13 globally approved vaccines against the Omikron variant is being intensively studied. The WHO recommends working on a vaccine against this variant.
Today we know that administration of the third dose of Pfizer-BionTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca vaccines gives 75-80% effectiveness in the case of contact with Omikron.
The commonly used fourth dose for people at risk is considered in the context of Omicron SARS-CoV-2 (ICL) high infectivity and the decrease in seroprotection.
These subsequent vaccinations protect against the severe course of COVID-19 with absolutely necessary hospitalization. We also fight for breath for exhausted patients with other non-covid diseases. We are trying to mitigate the global impact of subsequent cases of illness.
There is legitimate concern about further strain to the limits of health systems.
We are trading between the most optimistic scenario - Omicron's low immune escape and high boosters efficiency) and the most pessimistic one - high immune escape resistance and lower booster doses effectiveness).
At the WHO meeting (December 2021), scientists presented some encouraging findings on resistance to the rapidly spreading variant of the Omicron coronavirus.
Several laboratory studies suggest that so-called T cells in vaccinated people may be a strong defense against the variant, which may help prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death.
