In the United States, the Omicron variation has been linked to 43 COVID-19 cases, the majority of which have occurred in people who were completely vaccinated, with a third of those having had a booster dose, according to an official United States report published on Friday.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States reported that 34 of the 43 cases related to the Omicron strain had received a complete vaccination regimen. Fourteen of them had also got a booster, however, five of those incidents occurred less than 14 days after the supplementary shot, which is the time period before full protection takes effect.
However, despite the fact that the numbers are insignificant, they contribute to rising fears that current COVID-19 vaccinations may provide less protection against the highly transmissible new form.
After being discovered in Southern Africa and Hong Kong in late November, the Omicron version of the coronavirus has been detected through testing in around 22 states thus far.
25 of the Omicron instances occurred in people between the ages of 18 and 39, and 14 of them occurred in people who had traveled internationally. Earlier, the coronavirus has infected six people affected previously.
According to the research, the majority of them merely experienced mild symptoms such as coughing, congestion, and exhaustion, with one individual being admitted to the hospital for two days. Aside from nausea and vomiting, other symptoms that have been recorded include shortness of breath, trouble breathing, diarrhea, and loss of taste or smell.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while many of the first reported Omicron cases appear to be minor, there is a lag between infection and more serious results. In addition, it would be expected that symptoms will be milder in people who have been vaccinated or who have had a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection.
The first known Omicron case in the United States was discovered on December 1 in a fully vaccinated person who had recently returned from a trip to South Africa. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the earliest date of symptom onset was Nov. 15 in a person who had a history of international travel.
The Delta variety continues to account for over 99 percent of all cases in the United States. However, according to data from South Africa, the Omicron variety is extremely contagious and spreads quickly.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that even if the majority of cases are mild, a highly transmissible variety could result in enough infections to overwhelm healthcare systems.
According to laboratory research published this week, the Omicron version will reduce the protective capacity of two doses of Pfizer’s (PFE.N) and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine, albeit a third treatment may be necessary to restore that protection.
The United States has authorized the administration of COVID-19 vaccination booster doses for all Americans aged 16 and older.
