Video: Massachusetts doctor shares his 3 biggest concerns about omicron COVID-19 variant
Updated: 6:10 PM EST Nov 29, 2021
RESULTS TO STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS. BEN: THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION NOW SAYSHE T OMICRON VARIANT POSES A VERY HIGH RISK TO GLOBAL HEALTH. HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONSS I DR. ROBERT DUNCAN, AN INFECTIOUS DISEEAS SPECIALIST AT LAHEY HOSPITAL AND MEDALIC CENR.TE JESSICA: WE DON’T HAVE A LOT OF DATA YET ABOUT THIS VARIANT, SO BASED ON THE EARLY EVIDENCE YOU’VE SEEN, WHAT’S CAUSING THE MOST CONCERN? >> I THINK THERE ARE THREE COMPENONTS TO WHAT MAKES CONCERNING VIRUS. ONE IS HOW EASILY IT’S TRANSMITTED, TWO IS HOW EFFECTIVELYND A ROBTUS YOUR IMMUNE RESPONDS TO IT. THE THIRDS I HOW SEVERE THE DISEASE IS THAT IT CAUSES. I THINK WE’RE WORRIED ABOUT ALL THREE OF THOSE. THERE ARE LOTF MUTATIONS. BEN: WHY DO SOME EXPERTS THINK OUR VACCINES MAY BE LSES EFFECTIVE AGAINST THIS VARIANT? >> THERE ARE AS MANY AS 50 MEW TAKINGS IN THIS VIRUS. WHICH IS A NEW RECORD. MANY OF THEM CHANGE THE SHAPE OF THE MAIN TARGET OF THE ANTIBOESDI. THE ANTIBODIES JUST MAYOT N STICK AS WELL TO THE PROTEIN AND THE QUESTION IS, HOW EFFECTIVE THEY WILL BE. WE DON’T KWNO THAT YET. JESSICA: DO YOU THINK IT’S LIKELY THAT OMICRON IS ALRE — DO YOU THINK IT’S HERE? >> WE DON’T HAVE GOOD ENOUGH FLASH LIGHTS TO FIND OUT WHERE IT IS. WE’RE ONLY SURVEYING ABOUT 4% OF THE CASES THAT WE HAVE INHE T COUNTRY, WE NEED TO GET BETTER AT TTHA SURVEILLANCE. ED: SOME PEOPLE WILL HEAR THIS NEWS AND WORRY. WHAT Y’SOUR ADVICE TO THEM? >> VACCINATE. I THINK THE VACCINES, THERE’S CONCERN ABOUT WHETHER VACCINES MIGHT BE LESS EFFECTIVE. SO FAR THE TRACK RECORD IS THEY ALRELY PROTECT AGAINST THE WORST DISEASE. I WOULD GET VACCINATED AND IET G BOOSTED IF YOU’RE ELIGIBLE. IF YOUE’R PREGNANT, I WOULD — IF IT WERE MY KIDS EXPECTING A BABY, I’D BE ALL ORVE THEM ABOUT GETTING VACCINATED. IT’S THE SEAF THING TO DO. BEN: DR. ROB
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Video: Massachusetts doctor shares his 3 biggest concerns about omicron COVID-19 variant
Updated: 6:10 PM EST Nov 29, 2021
The World Health Organization says the omicron COVID-19 variant poses a very high risk to global health.
The World Health Organization says the omicron COVID-19 variant poses a very high risk to global health.
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