Estimated 73% of US now immune to omicron

[Shrek]

https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-health-united-states-3e7ab3f74080bac8480aa6de3e65ecce

The omicron wave that assaulted the United States this winter also bolstered its defenses, leaving enough protection against the coronavirus that future spikes will likely require much less — if any — dramatic disruption to society.

Millions of individual Americans’ immune systems now recognize the virus and are primed to fight it off if they encounter omicron, or even another variant.

About half of eligible Americans have received booster shots, there have been nearly 80 million confirmed infections overall and many more infections have never been reported. One influential model uses those factors and others to estimate that 73% of Americans are, for now, immune to omicron, the dominant variant, and that could rise to 80% by mid-March.

This will prevent or shorten new illnesses in protected people and reduce the amount of virus circulating overall, likely tamping down new waves. Hospitals will get a break from overwhelmed ICUs, experts agree.

“We have changed,” said Ali Mokdad, a professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle. “We have been exposed to this virus and we know how to deal with it.”

[spinbaby]

1. Something I ran across recently

Not sure if this is true, but I’ve seen a couple of references online to “super” immunity acquired by being exposed to covid after being vaccinated. I didn’t find an original source for this, so it may be wishful thinking.

[lapfog_1]

3. This is true

but the increase in immune response for those vaccinated, boosted, and recovered from previous Covid infection is not that large compared to no vaccine / recovered from infection OR vaccinated/boosted but never had Covid.

Also, the boosters / vaccines effectiveness starts to wane after 4 months from the time of the injection... by 6 months the effectiveness is down 20 percent or more.

Last, none of this prevents an catching Covid again, it does lessen the chance of re-infection, but doesn't eliminate it. That said once immunized by either recovering from infection or vaccination/booster or both... you are more than 20 times less likely to be hospitalized (some believe this number to be as much as 50 times less).

The pandemic is really only in the un-vaccinated (and un boosted) AND never had Covid population.

[chowder66]

9. Natural immunity + 1 shot should be considered "fully vaccinated" (and 3 mRNA shots) per

Eric Topol

Link to tweet

[forgotmylogin]

18. Only potential downside...actually having COVID can wreck your body.

Recovering from COVID trains your body to produce antibodies naturally, but COVID can have debilitating lifetime effects on the lungs, nervous system, and mental facilities. Common signs and symptoms that linger over time include:

Fatigue
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Cough
Joint pain
Chest pain
Memory, concentration or sleep problems
Muscle pain or headache
Fast or pounding heartbeat
Loss of smell or taste
Depression or anxiety
Fever
Dizziness when you stand
Worsened symptoms after physical or mental activities

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-long-term-effects/art-20490351

So many people have posted on Twitter saying having COVID didn't kill them but they feel like they never fully recover - exhaustion and headaches every day sometimes. So it's probably not a good idea to intentionally seek a COVID infection for that "natural immunity" boost the way people did for chicken pox in the 70's.

[dalton99a]

2. Kick

[Fiendish Thingy]

4. Booster immunity fades after 4 months, and then we start again.

This overly optimistic article will be used as evidence to remove all restrictions, resulting in a likely spike in hospitalizations and deaths, especially in children too young to vaccinate, come spring.

It’s good news, but temporary.

[PortTack]

16. Yup! Omicron BA.2 variant is gaining steam in Denmark and the UK.

It’s NOT mild and highly contagious!

[uponit7771]

25. True but historically with a variant that is not as lethal as the previous iterations.

[AlexSFCA]

5. Why restrictions are not over yet?

Those who are vaccinated and boosted are protected. N95 are freely available, vaccines, boosters and tests are freely available. Why keep unnecessary restrictions? I understand there is a small percentage of immunicompramised people who might still be at risk but they’ve always been and covid not the only virus dangerous to them while n95 protects both ways and freely available.

[RainCaster]

19. Because the Stupid isn't over yet

We all need to be protected from those who are intelligence-compromised.

[70sEraVet]

6. I'm sure that even "a professor of health metrics sciences" can't predict the future.

Will 'natural immunities' wane after a period of time, just like the vaccines immunity? We still have a lot to study on a brand new virus.

[GB_RN]

10. Probably...

We have to take booster shots of several types of vaccinations to keep up immunity over the course of our lifetime, like the MMR and TDaP for example. If you’ve ever had chicken pox, then you have to get the shingles vaccine on a regular basis after the age of 50 in order to prevent an outbreak of that infection: It’s the same virus. It just hides in the roots of the spinal nerves over the decades, but affects adults much differently.

Just as a side note, Herpes simplex I (aka “oral herpes” or “cold sores”) and II (aka genital herpes) pull the same trick, as they are in the same family as the chicken pox virus.

[Mosby]

15. I thought the shingles Vax was a two shot and done?

You don't need to keep getting shots, unlike covid, where the boosters have a half life of 3 months.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

20. The newest shingles vaccine is a two dose vax.

This source: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/shingles/public/shingrix/index.html

says that the Shingrix shots are good for anyway seven years. Sounds like they expect that protection to wane over time also.

[KS Toronado]

7. And that 20% to 27% will keep it alive & well

for years to come because of their "freedumbs"

[ancianita]

12. +1

So true, and we can't forget that reality. I think everyone should be vaccine carded for all businesses and dense public gatherings like concerts. FFS, children under age 12 are still threatened by this group!

[Lonestarblue]

8. Since you can get re-infected with Covid after having it, how is this true?

People with immunity through vaccinations get infected. It’s true that the cases are less serious, but I know people who have had Covid at least twice. The first bout didn’t protect them from the second. This article seems like wishful thinking.

And the NYT reported average deaths from yesterday at 2,317–down from more than 2,500 a couple of weeks ago but still the equivalent of around 10 plane crashes per day. The tally of deaths at the World Trade Center on 9/11 was 2,763. Covid deaths have approached that number every single day and even surpassed it at times. Given our resources, the US has failed miserably in its Covid response, and much of the blame can be laid at the feet of Donald Trump, Republican leaders, and the Republican sheep who value their politics over saving lives. Now we all just have to live with Covid, most likely for years to come as new variants pop up.

[lindysalsagal]

11. Exactly. I thought there was no firm data against re-infection.

[CaptainTruth]

14. "Immunity" doesn't mean you won't catch it again.

Most folks don't seem to understand what immunity means in medical terms. I didn't understand it until I looked it up.

One definition:

Immunity
The ability of an organism to resist a particular infection or toxin by the action of specific antibodies or sensitized white blood cells.

So, immunity doesn't mean you won't get infected, it means your body can resist the infection.

[Raftergirl]

24. Exactly.

Whether from a natural infection or from being vaccinated your bodies B cells and T cells (memory cells) remember the antigen and begin to fight the infection several days after infection. That is why, while you may get symptoms early on, once the memory cells kick in to fight the infection and prevents one from getting seriously ill and hospitalized.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

21. Apparently, the very nature of corona viruses is that

they can re-infect readily. Some relatively small percentage of the common cold comes from corona viruses (most are from a rhino virus) and those are the specific colds people can get again and again. On the other hand, if you get a rhino virus cold, once recovered you are permanently immune to that specific virus.

[Ford_Prefect]

13. .....Until you pass the 4th month decline in immunity. After that good luck!

And someone asked why we shouldn't reconsider making masking and other protocols as optional now?

[Mosby]

17. This guy has a lot to say about the claimed immunity.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216365066

[WarGamer]

22. I think I had it a few weeks ago

Couldn't get tests to confirm...

But was like a mild cold... wife and I BOTH had it after a boat charter out to the Channel Islands with 40-50 other people... all masked up but still in close proximity.

Better in 3-5 days, both of us. Never as bad as a "bad" cold. No fever, slight cough, slight body aches and headache.

Oh and I'm vax'd

[Rocknation]

23. Same here

Three days short of eight weeks after my second covid vaccine (that's how long it takes for them to fully kick in), I went through a few hours of no appetite, fatigue, feverishness, a slight headache, and not-so-slight diarrhea.

I dismissed it as the seasonal "common" flu (for which I had also been vaccinated) plus a minor hangover and indigestion from partying the night before -- because I ended up feeling better enough to go out and resume partying that very evening. However, I subsequently came across research that absence of appetite and diarrhea are not uncommon with Covid -- and I don't think it hurt that I'd gotten a pneumonia vaccine by then, too.


rocktivity

[greenjar_01]

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