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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.
Connect with others talking about the pandemic and supporting one another in the COVID-19 support group.
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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Thank you for your reply I do plan to discuss the option for fourth booster vs Evusheild with the oncologist and the cardiologist
Hi Colleen, The Wall Street Journal had a piece on January 17 written by a member of their editorial board that says it's good to get Omicron, since" infection leaves most people with potent and durable protection against the disease," better than what vaccines alone will give you. She calls this superimmunity. She quotes a study from the Oregon Health and Science University that states that vaccinated people who have breakthrough infections produce higher levels of antibodies that were up to 1000% more effective than those generated two weeks after a second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. Here's the study: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2787447
Given this article from WSJ, why wouldn't I want to get infected? Sounds like a good thing.... Yours, Julie S
Hi Julie, thanks for making me aware of the editorial and the JAMA study of 26 participants. I will submit your query as a question for the expert, Dr. Poland.
For me personally, however, I've chosen to continue with measures that reduce my risk of getting infected, intentionally or unintentionally, for a few reasons:
1. Because I don't want to risk infecting others who may be more vulnerable to serious consequences of COVID, such as unvaccinated children, the elderly or immunocompromised
2. I don't want to risk getting long COVID, which can be very debilitating and have long-term consequences
I am lucky enough that being vaccinated, masking, working remotely and limiting my exposure to others is relatively easy for me and my lifestyle. I realize that is not the case for everyone.
Stay tuned for Dr. Poland's next podcast on February 2, 2022.
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1 ReactionHi Colleen, When is Dr. Poland's next podcast? Yours, Julie
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1 ReactionThis is my first reading of this text. It answers some of the questions I have and I appreciate you posting it.
I’m with Julie. I would like to know if Dr. Poland is on a regular schedule for doing his podcasts. From reading the titles on Connect, I don’t always pick up right away that there is a podcast from him.
I have read the Wall Street Journal every day for many years. I have stopped reading their medical information because too often there is misinformation there. Especially in editorials dealing with the medical field. I rely solely on information from Mayo Clinic now.
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1 ReactionI did click through to the study they cited in that piece, and noted that it was based on a very small number. It infuriates me that they are promoting junk science with articles like this. I would LOVE it if Dr. Poland would address this issue in his next podcast, as for years, the WSJ was so reliable. Nautilus had an article recently on junk science coming out of Brazil and justifying ivermectin. Ironically, one of the top government officials there promoting this stuff (papers which were published in seemingly scientific journals but without peer review and which left out death data) just died of covid.
You are so right about trying to trust our sources. The Wall Street Journal article didn't pass my "test" described below because a sample of 26, out of the millions infected, is statistically immaterial.
I read a lot of articles in my efforts to understand the conditions, diseases and treatments people ask questions about here on Connect. Some are in the realm of what you call "junk science". Others are pure self-promotion or product promotion. Still others are what I refer to as "interesting, but not ready for Prime Time", such as case studies and theories. Then there are the credible research studies, that may support specific treatments or medications, or report that other methods may be just as effective or even better, or most likely conclude "there is evidence that this is effective in some cases, but more study is needed."
I have now begun, with even the scientific and medical journals to look first at the number of subjects, second the number and qualifications of researchers involved, and third an independent peer review.
If the report is a "case study", numbers could be small (10-100) with rare conditions. But with something widespread like arthritis or drugs for cholesterol or treatments for back pain, I look for a "research study", involving at least 1000 people.
If the author has professional, research or scientific credentials, I look for them to be affiliated with a respectable organization. And I look at the last page to see their potential conflicts of interest.
And I look for the peer review.
Finally, I use "Dr Google" to determine any hidden motives (Web sites where they are touting treatments, etc.)
Only if I believe an article is credible, includes enough subjects to be useful, is not a product promotion by someone with a financial stake, do I ever share the link or summary. If someone on Connect asks a about a study, treatment or product, I read their link and apply the same criteria before I comment.
Sue
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1 Reaction@mpeters and @jsakell and everyone else who follows Dr. Poland's podcasts.
Podcast Q&As with Dr. Gregory Poland are published every other Wednesday. Upcoming podcasts will be published on 2/2, 2/16, 3/2, 3/16 and 3/30.