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Tracking the omicron surge in Massachusetts

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COVID-19 cases are surging in Massachusetts and health experts say the highly-transmissible omicron variant is fueling the record-setting spread. The first omicron case in Massachusetts was identified in early December and the first cases in Boston were identified less than two weeks later. The coronavirus variant has also become the dominant strain in the United States. Omicron is identified through genomic sequencing of virus cases.Omicron is classified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization as a variant of concern. Early data suggests omicron spreads more easily than other variants but researchers are still working to determine how its severity may compare to earlier strains.All three COVID-19 vaccines in use in the United States — Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson — have been shown to be highly protective against severe disease resulting in hospitalization or death due to known coronavirus variants and remain the single best way for people to protect themselves, their loved ones and their community, according to health officials.There are more than 1,000 locations across Massachusetts to get vaccinated or receive a booster shot. The vaccine is free, and no ID or insurance is required for vaccination. Visit vaxfinder.mass.gov for a list of vaccination locations. Click here to learn more about COVID-19 vaccines from state health officials.MASSACHUSETTS CORONAVIRUS CASESSymptoms reported for patients with COVID-19 have included mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, as well as new loss of taste or smell. Further details are available here.This state website will help you locate the nearest COVID-19 testing facility. Massachusetts also has an online resource that allows you to assess your symptoms and find the right care.For more information on coronavirus and testing, you can also call 211, which is a 24-hour state-supported hotline.FREE RAPID TESTSFree COVID-19 rapid tests will be made available to residents of more than 100 Massachusetts communities. The 2.1 million tests cost $10 million in state-appropriated funds, which are to be reimbursed from Federal Emergency Management Agency.”The tests can be completed by residents in their home. Test results will be complete in 15 minutes, and do not go to a lab,” Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders said.Baker’s administration said it is also negotiating with rapid test kit manufacturers to allow cities and towns to purchase additional tests at a lower cost.BREAKTHROUGH CASES IN MASSACHUSETTSMassachusetts public health officials track the number of COVID-19 cases among people who’ve been fully vaccinated against the virus. These are often called “breakthrough” cases and their rise in the face of the contagious delta variant has contributed to interest in the idea of booster shots.Breakthrough infections can cause disease with symptoms, and some people can have no symptoms at all. Research has shown that if people become infected after vaccination, typically they get a milder case.Officials began to publish data about breakthrough cases routinely during August.MASSACHUSETTS HOSPITALIZATIONSIf you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately, the CDC said.Emergency warning signs include:Trouble breathingPersistent pain or pressure in the chestNew confusion or inability to arouseBluish lips or face*This list is not all-inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerningDOCTORS ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONSLocal doctors join NewsCenter 5 almost every day to answer questions about COVID-19, the emerging variants and the latest information about vaccinations or treatments. Watch the latest interviews in the video player above. If you have a question for the doctors, please email it to newsroom@wcvb.com for consideration. Vaccines and booster shotsHundreds of thousands of Massachusetts children are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination as many of their parents and older relatives are also eligible for booster shots. Kid-sized doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine recently gained federal authorization, making the jab available to children between the ages of 5 and 11. The federal government promised enough doses to protect the nation’s 28 million children in the age group. Secretary of Health and Human Services of Massachusetts Marylou Sudders said the number of newly eligible children is about 515,000.Cambridge-based Moderna is also pursuing authorization to administer its vaccine to adolescents and kids, but additional research on the 12-17 age group is slowing that process. Meanwhile, booster shots of the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are also available for millions of adults who already completed their initial vaccine course.Are you eligible for a booster shot? Find vaccination appointments in MassachusettsThose who received Pfizer or Moderna shots first are eligible for booster shots if your last dose was at least six months ago and you’re over the age of 18.Anyone who got a J&J shot at least two months ago is eligible, regardless of age or other factors. The different rule is because the J&J vaccine was found to be less effective than two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer formulas, and health authorities decided it was important for the J&J recipients to achieve a similar level of protection. As for the timing, J&J simply tested more people with a two-month booster than one at six months.For recipients of Moderna or Pfizer vaccinations, there’s no clear data that everybody needs another dose, but immunity against infection in at least some people appeared to wane around six months.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration didn’t recommend that people switch vaccine brands but left open the option. Preliminary results of a government study found an extra dose of any vaccine triggered a boost of virus-fighting antibodies regardless of what shots people got to begin with. For people who originally got a J&J vaccination, the Moderna and Pfizer shots appeared to offer a stronger boost. But researchers cautioned the study was too small to say one combination is better than another.MASSACHUSETTS FATALITIES

COVID-19 cases are surging in Massachusetts and health experts say the highly-transmissible omicron variant is fueling the record-setting spread.

The first omicron case in Massachusetts was identified in early December and the first cases in Boston were identified less than two weeks later. The coronavirus variant has also become the dominant strain in the United States.

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Omicron is identified through genomic sequencing of virus cases.

Omicron is classified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization as a variant of concern. Early data suggests omicron spreads more easily than other variants but researchers are still working to determine how its severity may compare to earlier strains.

All three COVID-19 vaccines in use in the United States — Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson — have been shown to be highly protective against severe disease resulting in hospitalization or death due to known coronavirus variants and remain the single best way for people to protect themselves, their loved ones and their community, according to health officials.

There are more than 1,000 locations across Massachusetts to get vaccinated or receive a booster shot. The vaccine is free, and no ID or insurance is required for vaccination. Visit vaxfinder.mass.gov for a list of vaccination locations. Click here to learn more about COVID-19 vaccines from state health officials.


MASSACHUSETTS CORONAVIRUS CASES

Symptoms reported for patients with COVID-19 have included mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, as well as new loss of taste or smell. Further details are available here.

This state website will help you locate the nearest COVID-19 testing facility. Massachusetts also has an online resource that allows you to assess your symptoms and find the right care.

For more information on coronavirus and testing, you can also call 211, which is a 24-hour state-supported hotline.


FREE RAPID TESTS

Free COVID-19 rapid tests will be made available to residents of more than 100 Massachusetts communities.

The 2.1 million tests cost $10 million in state-appropriated funds, which are to be reimbursed from Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“The tests can be completed by residents in their home. Test results will be complete in 15 minutes, and do not go to a lab,” Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders said.

Baker’s administration said it is also negotiating with rapid test kit manufacturers to allow cities and towns to purchase additional tests at a lower cost.


BREAKTHROUGH CASES IN MASSACHUSETTS

Massachusetts public health officials track the number of COVID-19 cases among people who’ve been fully vaccinated against the virus. These are often called “breakthrough” cases and their rise in the face of the contagious delta variant has contributed to interest in the idea of booster shots.

Breakthrough infections can cause disease with symptoms, and some people can have no symptoms at all. Research has shown that if people become infected after vaccination, typically they get a milder case.

Officials began to publish data about breakthrough cases routinely during August.


MASSACHUSETTS HOSPITALIZATIONS

If you develop emergency warning signs for COVID-19 get medical attention immediately, the CDC said.

Emergency warning signs include:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
  • New confusion or inability to arouse
  • Bluish lips or face

*This list is not all-inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning


DOCTORS ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS

Local doctors join NewsCenter 5 almost every day to answer questions about COVID-19, the emerging variants and the latest information about vaccinations or treatments. Watch the latest interviews in the video player above.

If you have a question for the doctors, please email it to newsroom@wcvb.com for consideration.


Vaccines and booster shots

Hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts children are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccination as many of their parents and older relatives are also eligible for booster shots.

Kid-sized doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine recently gained federal authorization, making the jab available to children between the ages of 5 and 11. The federal government promised enough doses to protect the nation’s 28 million children in the age group.

Secretary of Health and Human Services of Massachusetts Marylou Sudders said the number of newly eligible children is about 515,000.

Cambridge-based Moderna is also pursuing authorization to administer its vaccine to adolescents and kids, but additional research on the 12-17 age group is slowing that process.

Meanwhile, booster shots of the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are also available for millions of adults who already completed their initial vaccine course.

Those who received Pfizer or Moderna shots first are eligible for booster shots if your last dose was at least six months ago and you’re over the age of 18.

Anyone who got a J&J shot at least two months ago is eligible, regardless of age or other factors. The different rule is because the J&J vaccine was found to be less effective than two doses of the Moderna or Pfizer formulas, and health authorities decided it was important for the J&J recipients to achieve a similar level of protection. As for the timing, J&J simply tested more people with a two-month booster than one at six months.

For recipients of Moderna or Pfizer vaccinations, there’s no clear data that everybody needs another dose, but immunity against infection in at least some people appeared to wane around six months.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration didn’t recommend that people switch vaccine brands but left open the option. Preliminary results of a government study found an extra dose of any vaccine triggered a boost of virus-fighting antibodies regardless of what shots people got to begin with. For people who originally got a J&J vaccination, the Moderna and Pfizer shots appeared to offer a stronger boost. But researchers cautioned the study was too small to say one combination is better than another.


MASSACHUSETTS FATALITIES

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