How effective is the vaccine against Omicron? Should I get the booster shot? Visit our blog to know the importance of getting fully vaccinated.

Vaccine’s v/s Omicron

India recorded 3,06,064 new Covid-19 cases and 439 related deaths and the positivity rate climbed to 20.75 per cent, India’s active caseload currently stands at more than 22,49,335.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published new research about Omicron and the effectiveness of the current vaccines stating that the protection against hospitalization is only 70 percent.

Experts have classified this as a variant of concern due to its widespread infection. So far, the least amount of protection is for the unvaccinated people and the ones with a single/double dose, effectively as low as 57%, 6 months after 2^nd dosage. Research shows that vaccines such as Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson are the most effective in providing protection against the current variant.

Although there have not been any reports of increased severity of illness due to Omicron than the Delta variant, a rapid surge in cases can lead to overwhelming number of sick patients. The ones who remain unvaccinated are the most vulnerable, even more than the ones who haven’t got their booster dose.

This has brought to light the CDC’s plan to not changing the definition of being “fully vaccinated”, rather “pivoting our language” to make sure that people stay “up to date” on their COVID vaccinations. “If you recently got your second dose, you're not eligible for a booster, if you are eligible for a booster and you haven't gotten it, you're not up to date.” – Rochelle Walensky, Director of CDC.

It is observed that people who have got both dosages and the booster shot have up to 75% the chance in preventing reinfection from the virus and 90% from severe disease or hospitalization. However, it is observed that the Omicron variant can evade the protection provided by the vaccines to a degree thereby making it possible for more breakthrough infections, some of which are mild. Patients who have previously got COVID or those who have organ transplants, weaker immunity or are on chemotherapy are said to face more serious complications.

Consequently, this has raised the plea for those who still haven’t got their first shot to initiate their dosage and bring their children along with them. To ensure maximum protection and to play your part in ending this pandemic it is best to stay up to date with the booster shots and enhance your immunity against any new variants in the future.

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