January 2, 2022
antidote to worry
By now, most of you have heard of friends or family recently catching COVID-19, despite being careful. The numbers of positive tests have skyrocketed. As the holidays end and schools reopen, worry increases. Seattle schools are encouraging testing of students before returning to school, tough due to the shortage of testing kits. University of Washington and other hospitals in the area are once again postponing surgeries due to concern about capacity if hospitalizations increase any further due to this new wave of COVID-19.
So far, Omicron appears to be more infectious, but less virulent. Most cases are milder and people recover faster. The mRNA vaccines in particular protect from serious illness and death, even though they are not preventing actual infections. The concern is that the spiking numbers will increase exposure of unvaccinated or people with immunocompromise, who are more vulnerable. These serious illnesses can then overwhelm hospitals.
Research is already showing that Omicron spares the lungs during infection and concentrates in the nose, throat, and windpipe. This is good news and points to why it so infectious and why people are recovering faster- it is more like a common cold, or the flu, in the vaccinated or people infected before. People with breakthrough infections develop “Superimmunity”. Other research shows that people are protected from an infection from the Delta variant if they had Omicron. This is a bonus, because Delta certainly causes more serious illness in people.
These data are reassuring and a good start to the year. Many scientists predict that SARS-CoV-2 will continue to mutate until it is less deadly, becoming endemic, similar to the flu. The US Army is testing a “super vaccine” that targets variants and may even work against other coronaviruses like SARS.
Worry is still easy to carry and a burden, despite these good bits of news. We all know many still vulnerable to COVID-19 because of immunocompromise, age, or being unvaccinated. COVID-19 continues to disrupt our lives, as evidenced by so many flights cancelled over the past weeks. Burnout is real. It helps to recognize it in yourself. The best thing remedy is to help someone else. You can also donate blood. Blood banks report the worst shortage of blood in years. Any donation will be thanked.
Wash your hands, cover your nose with a good mask, look for hope, and find a way to help someone.
And finally, my caveat is that this is my experience and my opinions, which are subject to change as more information is available, and not related to the organization I work for. Thanks for reading.
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/they-were-so-careful-for-so-long-they-got-covid-anyway/
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/with-omicrons-rise-americans-brace-for-return-to-school-and-work/
https://www.seattletimes.com/education-lab/seattle-public-schools-begins-mass-testing-effort-for-coronavirus-before-school-resumes/
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/uw-medicine-postpones-non-urgent-surgeries-in-response-to-covid-spike/
mRNA effective vaccines https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211223113122.htm
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/studies-suggest-why-omicron-is-less-severe-it-spares-the-lungs/
https://www.mdlinx.com/news/breakthrough-infections-generate-super-immunity-to-covid-19-study-suggests/40mTjS3bCSYpe5RjOCkQbM
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/12/28/world/omicron-covid-vaccine-tests/omicron-variant-might-help-defend-against-delta-a-lab-study-suggests
https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/the-future-of-covid-19-is-not-so-dire/
https://www.businessinsider.com/us-army-universal-vaccine-target-spfn-variants-pan-coronavirus-sars-2021-12
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/snow-storms-and-pandemic-ground-flights-delay-holidays-end/
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/16/well/worry-burnout-covid.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/21/well/mind/loneliness-volunteering.html
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/u-s-blood-banks-experiencing-biggest-shortage-in-a-decade/