COVID News: Omicron Variant, Booster, Breakthrough Cases

Every week, We offer you a summary of our remarkable coronavirus coverage.

More than 48.8 million people in the United States tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday morning, December 3, according to Johns Hopkins University. These include more than 785,000 people who have died nationwide.

There are more than 264.3 million confirmed cases of the highly contagious virus worldwide, with more than 5.2 million reported deaths.

More than 197.8 million People in the US have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 since December 2 – roughly 59% of the total population, a tracker from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows. More than 42.9 million people have received a booster dose.

Here is what happened between November 26th and December 2nd.

First US case of a variant of Omicron discovered in California

Federal officials confirmed the first documented case of the variant Omicron coronavirus in the United States in California.

The person recently traveled to South Africa and returned to California on November 22nd. The person is fully vaccinated and has mild symptoms that are getting better, the CDC said.

All close contacts have been contacted and tested negative, the agency added.

The variant of the Omicron coronavirus is mysterious – but there is some good news

Just in time for the holiday and flu times, a new variant of the coronavirus has appeared, making the world’s almost two-year attempt to contain the COVID-19 pandemic more difficult.

Initial indications indicate that despite vaccination or previous infection, there is an increased risk of reinfection with Omicron and that this version spreads faster than others. But there is no guarantee that this is true – yet.

Experts are working quickly to understand whether the Omicron variant can cause more severe illness or bypass vaccines or immunity from infection. However, among the mysteries there are signs of hope, experts say.

Read on to find out more.

When are you fully protected by your COVID-19 booster vaccination?

All adults in the United States are eligible for a COVID-19 booster of any of the three coronavirus vaccines available.

But when can you officially benefit from the protection that the extra dose offers?

As with your first COVID-19 vaccinations, after receiving your booster, it will take your body two weeks to produce as many coronavirus antibodies as the extra injection will allow, a spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told McClatchy News.

Find out more here.

Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine may be less effective against Omicron

There is a chance the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine could lose some of its effectiveness if used against the Omicron coronavirus variant that is a tired world on high alert, according to the company’s CEO.

Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel told the Financial Times that the company’s vaccine may need revision, citing the large number of mutations on Omicron’s spike protein – which the coronavirus uses to penetrate human cells – and first indications that the variant was rapidly spreading in South Africa, where it was first discovered.

Other experts look to the future with a brighter view.

Do children need COVID-19 boosters? Fauci says it is “less likely”

COVID-19 booster vaccinations are now available to all adults in the United States and provide additional protection against coronavirus variants and serious illnesses.

Children have not been eligible for booster doses since Nov. 26, and it is unclear when or if federal health officials will expand eligibility to anyone under the age of 18.

However, experts say the extra shot is unlikely to do much, at least for now.

Here’s why.

COVID-19 breakthrough cases three times higher in immunocompromised people

Coronavirus infection after a full vaccination is possible, but rare.

Now, new research shows that breakthrough cases are not only more common but also more serious in people with compromised immune systems.

The study, led by researchers at Pfizer who helped develop one of the three COVID-19 vaccines available, found breakthrough cases – infections that occur two or more weeks after full vaccination – in immunocompromised people , including people with cancer, HIV., were three times more likely to have kidney disease and organ transplants compared to people with no disease.

Another study found that protection wore off after the second Pfizer shot

COVID-19 vaccines offer strong protection against serious illness and death, but breakthrough infections – cases that occur two or more weeks after being fully vaccinated – are possible.

Now, a new study is adding to a growing body of evidence showing that the risk of infection gradually increases after your second vaccination with a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine, suggesting that booster vaccinations are playing a crucial role in the ongoing pandemic could.

An analysis of more than 80,000 electronic health records from adults who had a PCR coronavirus test at least three weeks after receiving their second dose of Pfizer vaccine found that the rate of positive results increased the longer the time had been since a second vaccination.

Mask that steams up your glasses in the winter cold? These tips can help

As the weather gets colder and the wearing of masks continues as new coronavirus variants emerge, glasses wearers can face an undesirable challenge.

We’re talking about fogging up your glasses. It’s an annoying problem many people face while wearing glasses and a mask, but there are ways to prevent it from happening.

Here’s what you can do to see this winter pandemic clearly.

COVID, Fauci and Zoom: These are the most popular dog names in 2021

Dog parks can be filled with more pups named COVID, Fauci, and Zoom this year.

Rover.com, the app and website that connects owners with pet care services, looked at its database of more than a million pet parents to reveal the most popular dog names of 2021.

“The pandemic didn’t end in 2020, and neither did the trend of COVID-inspired dog names,” said Rover in his annual report.