Despite the consensus among most scientists and specialists that the symptoms of infection with the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 are not severe, this heavy guest still carries some surprising news. The latest update, announced on Friday evening by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), revealed that most of the recorded infections in the country were among vaccinated individuals, including some who had received the booster dose.
According to a report from the CDC, among 43 confirmed cases of Omicron, 34 individuals were fully vaccinated, and 14 of those had received a booster shot. The report added that 5 people became infected with Omicron "less than 14 days after receiving the booster dose." It indicated that most infected individuals only exhibited mild symptoms, such as cough, congestion, and fatigue, with one person requiring hospitalization for just two days.
Although the number of infections is low, this report reignites concerns about the potential ineffectiveness of currently available COVID-19 vaccines against this highly transmissible new variant, as reported by Reuters. However, the World Health Organization had previously stated that vaccines remain effective and successful in preventing the new strain and mitigating the severity of symptoms should the patient's condition worsen. Additionally, it confirmed that all data indicate that Omicron spreads more easily and rapidly than previous variants, particularly Delta.
