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Americans should be able spend the holidays with their families, regardless of the arrival of the Omicron variant in the United States. This is assuming they are vaccinated against COVID-19. Anthony Fauci, M.D. says.
“Just like I said, and I’ll say it again If you’re in an infection, you should enjoy the holidays with your family in a family-friendly setting,” Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases was speaking at a CNN Global Town Hall on Wednesday.
The Omicron variant is so new that scientists aren’t certain whether current vaccines offer adequate protection against it. Fauci has stated that vaccines provide protection against the Delta variant of the COVID strain. Omicron may have the same success.
Fauci declared that Omicron variants are an excellent example of this. “If you get your levels to a certain level, it will spill over and you’ll get cross-protection with that variant,” Fauci said.
Fauci advised that people who haven’t received their booster shot should have it. He also said that it is not yet certain whether booster shots will be needed more often or yearly.
“Get that extra boost now,” Fauci said. “The level of antibodies that increase and increase following a boost is much higher than the level at which you experience after the second dose of a two-dose vaccination.”
People who have been vaccinated should be able to travel safely wearing face masks, particularly in airports or other places where there is a lot of congregation, Fauci said. Commercial aircraft require masks.
If you’re in an indoor setting and you aren’t aware of the status of your fellow people, it’s a good idea to wear a mask Fauci advised.
He said, “And one thing that’s quite clear is that if you have a need to be in an indoor gathering place where you’re unsure about the vaccination status of the people around your, wear an eye mask.”
On Wednesday an individual from California was able to identify the first Omicron variant in the United States. The patient had no symptoms and was fully vaccined. A second case was reported Thursday in Minnesota.
Omicron was first detected in South Africa. In an attempt to prevent the spread of Omicron, the United States and other countries have imposed travel restrictions on eight South African countries.
Sources
CNN. Fauci says that Omicron vaccination doesn’t mean you must cancel your holiday plans. Don’t put off getting an additional booster
Content Source: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/964130?src=rss
