Never mind the news, get boosted
While Westminster, as usual, tears itself apart over petty infighting, the only news that really matters is that an Omicron wave looks very likely to be heading our way, and fast. It could peak as early as the start of January.
The wisdom or not of the government’s Plan B isn’t important. Get your booster jab now, get some decent masks and take sensible precautions. With luck, the UK’s vaccine wall should limit severe symptoms and death, but it’s too early to know. A huge wave of infections could still cause real problems, and there are some worrying signs that younger patients are ending up in South African ICUs.
You can read one of the best summaries so far here. (He may update with a new post later today). A few key points:
Omicron re-infects those who have already been sick, or breaks through to those who have been vaccinated, much more than Delta.
…we don’t know if it causes less severe disease yet, our evidence is ambiguous.
Omicron cases on average are much more mild because there will be a much higher percentage of re-infections and breakthrough cases, which are highly protected against severe disease.
There is going to be a period early in 2022 when there are quite a lot of Omicron cases, such that it will be difficult to remain uninfected and it will likely be difficult to get any kind of medical treatment at a hospital. Be ready.
Also be ready in case of lockdowns and other government restrictions, especially if you live in Europe where they’ve shown a willingness to use them. And if you’re immunocompromised or otherwise at high enough risk you need to be sure to not get Omicron, then the price of success is getting super paranoid soon and lock down hard, for at least several months.