On the eve of Thanksgiving, Covid reminded all that neither death nor mutations take a vacation. Pandemic fatigue is spreading over the globe as the virus grows in strength, making it increasingly difficult to fight off the illness. Following the discovery of the newly discovered Omicron variety, border restrictions, a stock market fall, and a communal sigh of relief ensued. Many questioned whether the pandemic would ever come to an end. To stop the spread of illness, we need to be quick learners, good communicators, and quick thinkers.
As The Omicron & Pandemic Tale Continues, What Can We Expect Next?
Omicron still has a lot of unknowns, and the scientific community won’t have answers to the most urgent questions for many weeks or more. Quick, accurate, and actionable information is the most valuable resource we have when it comes to surviving and succeeding in the age of Covid.
One of the most pressing questions concerning Omicron is how well it may evade immunity from immunizations and previous infections. One of the biggest unknowns is whether or not governments will be able to keep the trust of a large enough population to implement effective control measures. Our best hope of halting the spread of the disease lies in exchanging knowledge and best practices across borders. Because of how the media has portrayed Omicron, many people are feeling down. It’s comforting to remember the progress accomplished in the last year. There is now a better understanding of transmission, risk factors, treatment options for people with severe sickness, and how masks, ventilation, and distance may assist limit the spread of the disease. Vaccines, most critically, are exceedingly safe and effective.
That which is going to take place should not be sugarcoated. The flu season has barely just started, but the Delta type of Covid has already caused a major epidemic in the United States and Europe. Omicron is predicted to create a new wave of infection in the near future. Even without Omicron, a difficult few months are ahead for the United States. It’s going to be a long and challenging winter.
There are several elements that play a role in whether the Covid campaign succeeds or fails, including increasing vaccination and indoor masking regulations and individual or society judgments on how to balance individual or group risks or advantages. The most important thing is to vaccinate as many children as possible. Those who have not yet received their first dose can reach out to them. Since the unvaccinated make up the bulk of the population, large outbreaks may occur even in places with high vaccination rates. Having a more contagious variant increases the bar for herd immunity, making it more challenging to get protection from the virus. Immunosuppressed patients should get a third dosage, and everyone else should have a booster.
We are putting ourselves at risk for the development of new dangerous variants by failing to address the global immunization equity. In high-income countries, millions of people have had booster vaccines; in contrast, just 10% of the African population has been thoroughly immunized and vaccinated. Poorer countries have been forced to wait because vaccine makers have failed to meet their manufacturing targets repeatedly.