Disease Prevention

Omicron Infections Seem to Be Milder, Three Research Teams Report, but more contageous

Thu, 2021-12-23 15:20 — mike kraft

Three separate teams of scientists on two continents have found that Omicron infections more often result in mild illness than earlier variants of the coronavirus, offering hope that the current surge may not be quite as catastrophic as feared despite skyrocketing caseloads.

The researchers examined Omicron’s course through populations in South Africa, Scotland and England. The results in each setting, while still preliminary, all suggested that the variant was less likely to send people in hospitals.

“Given that this is everywhere and given that it’s going to be so transmissible, anything that would lower severity is going to be better,” said Natalie Dean, a biostatistician at Emory University in Atlanta.

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mRNA booster shots provide 'significant increase' in protection against Omicron -- new Danish study

Wed, 2021-12-22 22:40 — mike kraft

'Significant increase' in protection vs Omicron from mRNA boosters, study says Getting a third dose of either Pfizer-BioNTech's or Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine offers a "significant increase" in protection against the Omicron variant in elderly people, according to a Danish study published on Wednesday. Reuters Reuters

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Israel to offer fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine to people over 60

Tue, 2021-12-21 22:48 — mike kraft

Israel set to offer fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine to people over 60 Israel announced on Tuesday that it will offer a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to people older than 60, amid concern about the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. Reuters Reuters

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Biden: 'Dangerous misinformation' on social media, TV, fuels vaccine hesitancy

Tue, 2021-12-21 22:38 — mike kraft

Biden: 'Dangerous misinformation' on social media, TV fueling vaccine Misinformation spreading on social media platforms and cable television is fueling vaccine hesitancy, President Biden said Tuesday. Rebecca Klar TheHill

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Biden announces measures to counter Omicron surge, including stepped up testing and deploying military medical professdionals

Tue, 2021-12-21 20:39 — mike kraft

Biden steps up the U.S. pandemic response with help for hospitals and expanded testing

Facing an alarming surge in coronavirus cases that threatens to overwhelm the nation’s hospital system, President Biden stepped up his administration’s pandemic response again on Tuesday and tried to reassure an anxious nation, telling Americans that “we should all be concerned about Omicron, but not panicked.”

In a White House address, Mr. Biden directed his defense secretary to get 1,000 military medical professionals ready to help where needed; he announced new vaccination and testing sites; and he said his administration was buying 500 million rapid Covid-19 tests to distribute free to the public beginning in January through a new website.

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Misinformation about COVID. Experts explain why and how to spot false claims

Tue, 2021-12-21 16:40 — mike kraft

The omicron variant is fueling misinformation about COVID. Experts explain why and how to spot false claims. Public health experts say the lack of instant data on the omicron variant is prompting many people to seek out whatever information they can find. Adrianna Rodriguez USA TODAY

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WHO chief warns over festive gatherings because of fasts preading Omicron

Tue, 2021-12-21 16:24 — mike kraft

WHO chief warns over festive gatherings: ‘An event cancelled is better than a life cancelled’ Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says Omicron is infecting people who have been vaccinated and could double its infections every 1.5 to three days Guard

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Some countries shorten COVID-19 booster timelines in face of Omicron surge

Mon, 2021-12-20 17:07 — mike kraft

As Omicron threatens a global surge, some countries shorten COVID-19 booster timelines A growing number of countries are reducing the wait time for COVID-19 vaccine boosters from six months to as few as three in a bid to ward off a new surge in infections from the Omicron variant. Deena Beasley Reuters

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Prelimninary Research Indicates Most of the World’s Vaccines Likely Won’t Prevent Infection From Omicron

Mon, 2021-12-20 16:07 — mike kraft

A growing body of preliminary research suggests the Covid vaccines used in most of the world offer almost no defense against becoming infected by the highly contagious Omicron variant.

All vaccines still seem to provide a significant degree of protection against serious illness from Omicron, which is the most crucial goal. But only the Pfizer and Moderna shots, when reinforced by a booster, appear to have initial success at stopping infections, and these vaccines are unavailable in most of the world.

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