We in the US have now hit 120,000+ cases per day - a huge increase of 43% over the past two weeks. Just 3 weeks ago, we were averaging 80,000 and an 11% 2-week increase.
Thank you so much for this post as well as your tireless work to communicate information properly in the pandemic. Some of my family and friends don't believe any of this and I feel so alone. Thank you for your support and care!!!
My 11 y.o. is 16 days post 2nd Pfizer vaccine. Her scout troop is having an indoor holiday party, and is unmasking for part of it to eat. If she keeps a KN95 on the whole time (doesn't eat), is it safe to go? They are not testing beforehand, and I don't know the vaccination status of everyone attending. We are in California. I really want to let her go because after 21 months she is desperate for social interaction with peers, and this has been the milestone we've been telling her to wait for. But we also want to be safe from Omicrom. Everyone in our household is fully vaccinated, and the adults are also boostered. My 14 y.o. is 6 months post 2 Pfizer shots and not yet eligible for a booster.
These individual decisions are so hard to make right now. It sounds like you’re doing the right thing with masking and vaccines plus booster. For the mental health of kids, I would weigh that heavily in your decision too.
What is the best course of action regarding a booster shot for someone who got 2 mRNA shots (2nd in April) then was COVID positive in early August (very mild case)? I'd read that they should wait 6 months past the infection for the booster, if they need to get it at all. Is this still true? For a man in his early 40s in other good health.
I am immunocompromised and received my 3rd Pfizer shot in August. Has there been any discussion on getting a booster before the 6 month window? The CDC recommends immunocompromised people get a booster, but not until after 6 months have passed. Given the data on vaccine vs booster effectiveness with Omicron, I'd like to get my booster now!
I've been hearing some positive info coming out of S. Africa about Omicron being far less severe than prior variants with hospitalization rates drastically lower. Another interesting bit of info I saw was that sequencing of Omicron is indicating that it may be a mutation that shares some genetic coding from the common cold corona virus. Omicron numbers there seem to be outcompeting Delta too–as opposed to compounding it. I'm curious if you are seeing the same and what your thoughts are.
I have read variations of both of these positions on Omicron. Wondering your thoughts if either or both might be true. 1) The more people who get Omicron, the more likely it is to mutate and could mutate to something far worse that would evade vaccines either more so we should avoid getting if entirely possible. 2) The more people to get Omicron the better since it's less severe and will build immunity and may help Covid to die out in the general population (Not suggesting that one try to get it, just that it's more likely now to get that variant even if vaccinated.) Thoughts?
Also, my question has nothing to do with vaccines. I'm very pro-vaccine for those that are able to get it. It's more about how the spread of Omicron might work.
I'm wondering if we know if omnicron is transmitted via fomites in addition to being airborne? Was thinking about colds and flu and how a virus can get past the careful folks I know who mask all the time.
Thank you so much for this! What do you think is going to happen with the J&J recipients and additional boosters? I had J&J in late March, was boosted with Pfizer November 5th...8 weeks ago now. I am hearing that the boosters are only lasting 10 weeks. My husband and I both feel very vulnerable. Our 18 year old daughter home from college had double Pfizer's in April and May and her booster with Pfizer yesterday and wants to see her friends at some point during break. We told her to wait at least a week after her booster. We have family that got omicron after being boosted, so we want to be cautious since we feel like we are barely vaccinated. She's going to be all good, but not us 52 year old's at home. I really feel that the government has given up on us J&J people and it's very frustrating. Thanks for any insight.
Thank you so much for distilling information throughout the pandemic; it had been such a gift to my family and me.
I have a new question as well, that I can't seem to get information around. Andy Slavitt noted recently that the J&J shot is not doing well at all against omicron. He suggested that people with that shot are pretty much functionally unvaccinated against Omicron and suggested such folks "start over" but didn't provide much guidance beyond that at this point. He also did not sound like he felt a J&J with a booster would do much to improve immunity. Personally, I had the J & J and a Moderna booster. However, I feel like this is important in decision-making going into the holidays now that Omicron is taking over and am not hearing about it.
I wonder what your thoughts are on this - have there been any ideas on what may be advised in the future for folks, such as myself, who have had a J&J and mRNA booster? Feeling unprotected in the dark here!
Hear Andy Slavitt speak on this at about 52 minutes.
Thank you so much for this information! Been a fan of yours for a long time now and finally able to support your work. Wish I could have done it sooner.
I do have one question: Where are you getting the data from in the cases section? I share your posts in our local COVID group, when I was asked where your data came from, I wasn't sure. We're in FL (ya know, the state that flubs their numbers) and our state isn't reporting large case increases.
Also another important point that I wish people talked a bit more about: people are taking at home tests that don't get factored into case counts, so the reality is that the case counts are likely higher than what is being reported. Here in FL, testing is like a thing of the past. Hardly anyone feels the need and no one is masking.
Everyone here thinks we hit the jackpot with a more transmissible but less severe form of COVID so all caution has been thrown to the wind here. They have no idea the kind of trouble they're inviting. :(
Again. Thank you so much for all you do. You have been the voice of reason and I'm so grateful for your data and wisdom.
Thank you so much for this post as well as your tireless work to communicate information properly in the pandemic. Some of my family and friends don't believe any of this and I feel so alone. Thank you for your support and care!!!
New subscriber. Thanks for doing this, and collecting facts.
Welcome and thanks for the comment!
My 11 y.o. is 16 days post 2nd Pfizer vaccine. Her scout troop is having an indoor holiday party, and is unmasking for part of it to eat. If she keeps a KN95 on the whole time (doesn't eat), is it safe to go? They are not testing beforehand, and I don't know the vaccination status of everyone attending. We are in California. I really want to let her go because after 21 months she is desperate for social interaction with peers, and this has been the milestone we've been telling her to wait for. But we also want to be safe from Omicrom. Everyone in our household is fully vaccinated, and the adults are also boostered. My 14 y.o. is 6 months post 2 Pfizer shots and not yet eligible for a booster.
These individual decisions are so hard to make right now. It sounds like you’re doing the right thing with masking and vaccines plus booster. For the mental health of kids, I would weigh that heavily in your decision too.
What is the best course of action regarding a booster shot for someone who got 2 mRNA shots (2nd in April) then was COVID positive in early August (very mild case)? I'd read that they should wait 6 months past the infection for the booster, if they need to get it at all. Is this still true? For a man in his early 40s in other good health.
I’m hoping we hear more on these recommendations soon from the CDC.
I am immunocompromised and received my 3rd Pfizer shot in August. Has there been any discussion on getting a booster before the 6 month window? The CDC recommends immunocompromised people get a booster, but not until after 6 months have passed. Given the data on vaccine vs booster effectiveness with Omicron, I'd like to get my booster now!
I’m wondering if that guidance comes soon with Omicron. I hope so!
I've been hearing some positive info coming out of S. Africa about Omicron being far less severe than prior variants with hospitalization rates drastically lower. Another interesting bit of info I saw was that sequencing of Omicron is indicating that it may be a mutation that shares some genetic coding from the common cold corona virus. Omicron numbers there seem to be outcompeting Delta too–as opposed to compounding it. I'm curious if you are seeing the same and what your thoughts are.
I’m not convinced it is milder at all yet. Hospitalizations always lag so I think it’s too early to tell.
I have read variations of both of these positions on Omicron. Wondering your thoughts if either or both might be true. 1) The more people who get Omicron, the more likely it is to mutate and could mutate to something far worse that would evade vaccines either more so we should avoid getting if entirely possible. 2) The more people to get Omicron the better since it's less severe and will build immunity and may help Covid to die out in the general population (Not suggesting that one try to get it, just that it's more likely now to get that variant even if vaccinated.) Thoughts?
Also, my question has nothing to do with vaccines. I'm very pro-vaccine for those that are able to get it. It's more about how the spread of Omicron might work.
I'm wondering if we know if omnicron is transmitted via fomites in addition to being airborne? Was thinking about colds and flu and how a virus can get past the careful folks I know who mask all the time.
Thank you so much for this! What do you think is going to happen with the J&J recipients and additional boosters? I had J&J in late March, was boosted with Pfizer November 5th...8 weeks ago now. I am hearing that the boosters are only lasting 10 weeks. My husband and I both feel very vulnerable. Our 18 year old daughter home from college had double Pfizer's in April and May and her booster with Pfizer yesterday and wants to see her friends at some point during break. We told her to wait at least a week after her booster. We have family that got omicron after being boosted, so we want to be cautious since we feel like we are barely vaccinated. She's going to be all good, but not us 52 year old's at home. I really feel that the government has given up on us J&J people and it's very frustrating. Thanks for any insight.
Thank you so much for distilling information throughout the pandemic; it had been such a gift to my family and me.
I have a new question as well, that I can't seem to get information around. Andy Slavitt noted recently that the J&J shot is not doing well at all against omicron. He suggested that people with that shot are pretty much functionally unvaccinated against Omicron and suggested such folks "start over" but didn't provide much guidance beyond that at this point. He also did not sound like he felt a J&J with a booster would do much to improve immunity. Personally, I had the J & J and a Moderna booster. However, I feel like this is important in decision-making going into the holidays now that Omicron is taking over and am not hearing about it.
I wonder what your thoughts are on this - have there been any ideas on what may be advised in the future for folks, such as myself, who have had a J&J and mRNA booster? Feeling unprotected in the dark here!
Hear Andy Slavitt speak on this at about 52 minutes.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pod-save-america/id1192761536?i=1000545217330
Thank you so much for this information! Been a fan of yours for a long time now and finally able to support your work. Wish I could have done it sooner.
I do have one question: Where are you getting the data from in the cases section? I share your posts in our local COVID group, when I was asked where your data came from, I wasn't sure. We're in FL (ya know, the state that flubs their numbers) and our state isn't reporting large case increases.
Also another important point that I wish people talked a bit more about: people are taking at home tests that don't get factored into case counts, so the reality is that the case counts are likely higher than what is being reported. Here in FL, testing is like a thing of the past. Hardly anyone feels the need and no one is masking.
Everyone here thinks we hit the jackpot with a more transmissible but less severe form of COVID so all caution has been thrown to the wind here. They have no idea the kind of trouble they're inviting. :(
Again. Thank you so much for all you do. You have been the voice of reason and I'm so grateful for your data and wisdom.
May you find peace and joy this Christmas Season!