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With the highly transmissible omicron variant spread across the U.S., it may seem inevitable that most people will get infected with COVID-19. But Mayo Clinic experts explain why it is important to continue to be vigilant and take measures to avoid COVID-19 infection.
"One of the many negatives about saying, 'Well, I'll just go ahead and get infected and get it over with' is you can spread the virus to highly vulnerable people," says Dr. Gregory Poland, head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group. "Parents, grandparents, people too young to be immunized, and people whose immune systems might not be working well are all at risk of more severe disease. While your case may be mild, theirs may not."
Dr. Poland cautions that the sheer number of infections is stressing the health care system, and treatments for omicron are more limited than they were for the delta variant.
"The role of testing and of getting boosted is critical to our response to this, and remember, even though you might have mild disease, every time this virus infects somebody, it is the opportunity for further mutation." says Dr. Poland.
Vaccination, boosting and masking are all necessary to prevent the spread of omicron.
"Your best chance of protecting yourself is to be fully vaccinated, wear a proper mask properly when in public, and to avoid crowded indoor settings," says Dr. Poland.
On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Poland discusses the omicron surge and answers listener questions.
To practice safe social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, this interview was conducted using video conferencing. The sound and video quality are representative of the technology used. For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
Research disclosures for Dr. Gregory Poland.
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Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding, along with guidelines and recommendations, may have changed since the original publication date.
For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.
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The above reasoning makes sense ... why take a chance on carrying covid to someone you love, or a stranger for that matter? If they die of it, your guilty conscience will hurt you forever. I got all the vaccinations, I don't go anywhere if I can avoid it, I wear an N95 mask when I have to go to a public place (I hate it but I do it), I sanitize my hands after, I zoom with about 50 friends every morning to keep in touch with reality so I don't go nuts from isolation and breathing my own carbon dioxide. Peggy
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2 ReactionsAm I fully vaccinated and boosted if I had a single J&J shot in March 2021 and a half dose of Moderna in November 2021? Why wouldn't I be better off if I got infected NOW, with a little bit of protection, than in two months? I'm 65 and my husband is 69, and we live a pretty isolated life. Also, should I get fully vaccinated again now or should I wait for a next generation vaccine? And when will the next generation vaccines be available?
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1 ReactionIf the new vaccines won't be ready for a while, and I was vaccinated a year ago, what should I do now to protect myself until the new vaccines are available?
@jsakell- Good morning. It's never a good idea to purposely get infected. Why, you ask? Because with viruses you never know how your body will react and this is still Covid 19. It might be a variant but it is basically COVID-19. You can still wind up in the hospital and be very ill. It's not advised.
You can find out boosting information here:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/booster-shot.html
I had a booster of Moderna and it was a full dose. Why do you think that yours was a 1/2 dose?
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1 ReactionThe nurse at Walgreen's told me it was a half dose. I understood that was what the CDC recommended.
Ok. I still wouldn't make myself ill. The recommendations for being fully vaccinated if you had a single J&J dose are exactly what you did. You are pretty well protected according to the CDC. There are no guidelines for anything further than this at this time. Just keep doing what you are doing! It sounds as if you are doing everything right!
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1 ReactionGet the booster shot. Also, wear an n95 mask. Avoid crowds.
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3 ReactionsPodcasts by Dr. Greg Poland have answered these questions. I wish I had an index so I could tell you which ones. If you listened to, or read, the last six weeks I think the answers would be there.
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3 ReactionsMy booster was a half dose, as was all of my friends’.
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2 Reactions@mpeters- Many people were given half-doses as boosters. I googled CVS and it just said to sign up and I did. But they knew that it was my third full shot. I wonder if another 1/2 dose shot would be safe and make everyone feel better?