Stopping Omicron in its tracks

[AbstractDot]

So we know it hit the UK 3 weeks ago (roughly). We now have people getting Boosters in droves. Could parts of the UK that haven't yet had Omicron really take hold - but have had the extra heads up time to get Boosters urgently - potentially stop it in its tracks? I do hope so.

And if this is the case, as Delta cases fall, we could have a major period of respite on the cards?!

Am I right in thinking that this is good news then? Well not ‘good’ news, but news that there is a possibility that if the pattern keeps continuing like this, it might all end.

@MissAmbrosia

It's an airborne virus. Wearing masks and not mingling unnecessarily so it cant spread easily is the easiest and cheapest way of stopping it. And yet everyone seems to have an issue with those things.

Speak for yourself No ‘everyone’ doesn’t have ‘an issue with those things’.

Sooner or later the Hopium peddlers will get one right.

Not so far though.

@AbstractDot Who knows. Let's check back in on this in four or five days.

@3luckystars

Am I right in thinking that this is good news then? Well not ‘good’ news, but news that there is a possibility that if the pattern keeps continuing like this, it might all end.

At risk of sounding very doom-y, it is not going to end. It'll calm down but not end.

Calming down is good, I’ll take that. Thank you!

Booster offers upto 85% protection against severe illness. It's growing.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59696499

@Undisclosedlocation
But it's true!

I've got no anxiety about Covid, more serious concerns going on here. But it's clear to see 🤷🏽‍♀️🤷🏽‍♀️

I went to an event on Tuesday - about 100 people. Everyone told to lateral flow before arriving. Great night! Ha ha
By Thursday lunchtime at least 3 of us had symptoms and positive lateral flow tests. By lunchtime today 3 more that we know of.
Probably Omicron, none of us very ill. it's not the worst cold I've had but I have had 2 Moderna and a Pfizer booster.

Not entirely sure of my point but thinking that whilst it's rampant - it's not as destructive

@Sloelydoesit
A point I'd make is that 100 people at an event in winter would probably result in at least 10 people with a viral. Infection.. Like a cold... And maybe one or two flu.
We have coped with these viral infections before.
If boosters do. Indeed make omicron a lot less serious for most then yep let's have hope and positivity.. Not the endless doom. Mongering.
If you elderly or cev be more careful... As you might be anyway in winter.
If you've been boosted then go about normal life.

OP - I think the vaccination in a short space of time might help. What if we add to it mass testing: everyone test on xmas eve and then on Boxing Day and isolate IF they are positive or in a house with a positive case. Many people will be off work during this period anyway. Mass testing was used in China I think to combat spread.

I thought this was an interesting read. The lower end of booster effectiveness if the first time I’ve read this:

www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/omicron-five-times-more-likely-reinfect-than-delta-study-says-2021-12-17/

@3luckystars

Am I right in thinking that this is good news then? Well not ‘good’ news, but news that there is a possibility that if the pattern keeps continuing like this, it might all end.

Yes, eventually. I read a report which predicted 5 years of us being in this unpredictable stage, another 5 years of the situation being like a bad flu with similar management required.

@Sloelydoesit

I went to an event on Tuesday - about 100 people. Everyone told to lateral flow before arriving. Great night! Ha ha By Thursday lunchtime at least 3 of us had symptoms and positive lateral flow tests. By lunchtime today 3 more that we know of. Probably Omicron, none of us very ill. it's not the worst cold I've had but I have had 2 Moderna and a Pfizer booster.

Not entirely sure of my point but thinking that whilst it's rampant - it's not as destructive

That's it isn't it, 'what if' we had no vaccines or Boosters, would you and others have been very unwell? If yes, then everyone having the booster in a short space of time should really keep the symptomatic cases reduced whilst allowing antibodies to build naturally. Though now we have vaccinations I guess we will struggle to know the real severity of Omicron if as suggested elsewhere, South Africas low mortality rate is because it already took away the susceptible in earlier waves.

It also makes me wonder of a man-made variant could be introduced for that purpose alone, it could spread far quicker than we could vaccinate and reach those who are anti vax (just my musings!).

Boosters don't stop it in its tracks!!!

It's a virus and they spread. Unless we live in permanent lockdown there is nothing that can be done.