Better watch out, Omicron is coming to town: Here’s why

The data as of now suggests that three doses of COVID vaccine (two initial doses plus a booster dose) will decrease chances of getting infected with the Omicron variant, although there is no definitive evidence as yet – Pic by Shehan Gunasekara

1. It multiplies 70 times faster inside human respiratory tract tissue than the Delta variant

2. It reaches higher levels in the tissue compared to Delta 48 hours after infection

3. It may be able to infect people at a lower dose than Delta or the original variant 

4. In households in the UK the risk of Omicron variant spreading to another member is three times higher than the Delta variant 

5. In the US the percentage of cases caused by the new Omicron variant jumped seven times in just one week (from 0.4% of total cases to 2.9%)

In South Africa and UK those who got infected with Omicron as of now are thankfully demonstrating only ‘minor’ symptoms such as runny nose fever headache and fatigue.

Quite literally only a handful of patients infected with Omicron are showing clinical signs requiring hospital admission and care. An even smaller number as of now have required ICU care and an even smaller number have died due to Omicron COVID 19 infection per se or complications caused by it.

However due to the sheer number of persons who will get infected by Omicron due to its virology, it can be assumed that the complications from it to individuals families and the health system is going to be exaggerated exponentially. This is what even this mild clinical infection has the potential to do. We as individuals and as a community need to take preventive action against (as there is no cure to date).

The data as of now suggests that three doses of COVID vaccine (two initial doses plus a booster dose) will:

1. Decrease chances of getting infected with the Omicron variant (no definitive evidence as yet)

2. Will decrease the severity of the infection and mortality from the infection per se and its complications (no definitive evidence as yet)

Hence while following the DReAM guidance and avoiding the 3 Cs and prioritising your social interactions and commitment during this festive season it is highly recommended that those who are eligible to receive a booster dose do so immediately.

We do not need these measures imposed on us by the authorities; let us take responsibility for our health and well-being after all none of us are safe until all of us are safe.

Let’s learn to live with COVID more responsibly in 2022.

(The writer is a Family Physician, Head of Dept. of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo and Past President of the Sri Lanka Medical Association.)