NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — With the Omicron variant nonetheless spreading, there’s confusion as to what we are able to do subsequent to guard ourselves.
Many need to know do booster pictures final lengthy sufficient, or will we want extra pictures?
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Whereas most of us are being urged to get a booster shot to be “absolutely vaccinated,” there are some who’re asking: How lengthy does a booster dose’s immunity final?
We all know that antibody ranges wane over time after any COVID vaccine, CBS2’s Dr. Max Gomez mentioned.
Though the information are nonetheless preliminary, it appears to be like like booster pictures present good and lasting safety towards extreme illness with Omicron, which is totally different than safety towards getting a low-level an infection with comparatively gentle signs.
CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC
In different phrases, Omicron infections are much less more likely to result in hospitalizations and deaths than Delta infections after a booster.
If booster immunity does end up to weaken with time, will we want one other booster? A fourth shot?
Dr. Anthony Fauci mentioned it’s untimely to be speaking a few fourth dose, saying it could not present important further immunity and a few scientists have warned that some immune cells would possibly ultimately cease responding to the vaccine if too many doses are given.
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In any case, each Pfizer and Moderna are creating an Omicron-specific vaccine, totally different from a booster, that may very well be prepared in a pair months.
COVID VACCINE
Is there one thing aside from the Omicron variant driving this enormous spike in COVID instances?
Each affected person who walks right into a hospital will get examined for COVID, no matter what introduced them to there. Seems, wherever from 25-50% of these sufferers who find yourself testing optimistic for COVID had points unrelated to the virus, but their numbers contribute to the spike.
Nonetheless, all of these sufferers put a horrible pressure on well being care assets and workers.
Public well being consultants say we gained’t get previous the pandemic till we deal with a surprising contradiction in our habits. We see intolerably crowded hospitals actually proper down the road from crowded bars and arenas, usually full of unvaccinated folks.
Consultants say we can not return to regular till we deal with the behaviors which might be driving COVID infections.
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Editor’s word: This story first appeared on Jan. 10.