Boosters Key to Fight Omicron, But Lots Still to Learn
2021-12-26
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1The new Omicron variant has already shown how easily it infects people.
2But scientists do not yet know if it also causes more severe disease.
3"Everything is riskier now because Omicron is so much more contagious," said Dr. S. Wesley Long.
4He heads the testing lab at Houston Methodist Hospital.
5Omicron now is the number one variant in the United States, health officials said Monday.
6About three-quarters of new infections last week were from Omicron.
7Public health officials are surprised at how quickly Omicron became the number one cause of COVID-19 infection.
8After just three weeks, Omicron makes up 80 percent of new symptomatic cases found by Houston Methodist.
9Long said it took the Delta variant three months to reach that level.
10The variant has come at a bad time.
11Travel is increasing for the holidays, and people have started gathering.
12But what the arrival of Omicron will mean for the world is still unclear.
13Here is the latest on what is known and what is still to learn about Omicron:
14Vaccines in the U.S. and around the world do not offer as much protection against Omicron as they have against other variants.
15But vaccines still help a lot.
16And lab tests show that two shots may not be strong enough to prevent infection.
17But a booster shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine can fight off Omicron.
18Antibodies produced by the vaccine naturally drop over time.
19The booster shot raises them back up again.
20But it is unclear how many antibodies are needed to fight off Omicron.
21The booster provides 20 percent less protection against an Omicron infection than a Delta infection, said Dr. Egon Ozer of Northwestern University.
22But experts say that while the virus may infect someone who has been vaccinated, the booster protects against severe infection.
23"The vaccines are going to protect you against severe disease, hospitalization and death," said Long.
24"And that's really the most important thing."
25Having already suffered a COVID-19 infection does not appear to offer much protection against Omicron.
26However, as with vaccination, it may reduce the chances of severe illness.
27In South Africa, Omicron has already spread widely.
28Scientists reported a jump in reinfections that they had not seen from the two previous variants.
29In Britain, a report from the Imperial College of London on Friday found the risk of reinfection from Omicron was five times higher compared to the earlier Delta variant.
30Health experts say anyone who has had COVID-19 still should get vaccinated.
31Scientists are trying to figure out what makes Omicron so contagious.
32Researchers in Hong Kong recently reported that Omicron may spread more quickly in the lungs than Delta spread, but it does not spread as deep in the lungs as Delta.
33What scientists cannot measure is human behavior.
34Many places have been easing pandemic restrictions, which has helped the virus to spread.
35Also, winter has forced gatherings indoors, and travel has increased just as Omicron began spreading.
36Scientists say it is still too early to know if Omicron is milder, especially because there have been so many breakthrough infections.
37However, if a vaccinated person gets infected, it should be a milder illness than if an unvaccinated person gets infected from Omicron.
38Early reports from South Africa suggested milder illness.
39But doctors were unsure whether that is because the population is younger.
40The British study also found no evidence that Omicron has been milder than Delta, even in young adults.
41Dr. Jacob Lemieux researches variants for a group led by Harvard Medical School.
42"There's a hint, and I think many of us are hopeful, that Omicron will be less severe," he said.
43Based on other variants, scientists think that older people, and those with underlying health conditions are more likely to have severe disease.
44"I don't think it's going to be any different" than other variants, said Dr. Carlos del Rio of Emory University.
45During the holidays, experts agree that in addition to getting vaccinated and boosted, people should take basic safety measures: wear face coverings, avoid crowds, and practice social distancing.
46I'm Dan Novak.
1The new Omicron variant has already shown how easily it infects people. But scientists do not yet know if it also causes more severe disease. 2"Everything is riskier now because Omicron is so much more contagious," said Dr. S. Wesley Long. He heads the testing lab at Houston Methodist Hospital. 3Omicron now is the number one variant in the United States, health officials said Monday. About three-quarters of new infections last week were from Omicron. 4Public health officials are surprised at how quickly Omicron became the number one cause of COVID-19 infection. After just three weeks, Omicron makes up 80 percent of new symptomatic cases found by Houston Methodist. Long said it took the Delta variant three months to reach that level. 5The variant has come at a bad time. Travel is increasing for the holidays, and people have started gathering. But what the arrival of Omicron will mean for the world is still unclear. 6Here is the latest on what is known and what is still to learn about Omicron: 7How much protections do vaccines provide? 8Vaccines in the U.S. and around the world do not offer as much protection against Omicron as they have against other variants. But vaccines still help a lot. 9And lab tests show that two shots may not be strong enough to prevent infection. But a booster shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine can fight off Omicron. 10Antibodies produced by the vaccine naturally drop over time. The booster shot raises them back up again. But it is unclear how many antibodies are needed to fight off Omicron. The booster provides 20 percent less protection against an Omicron infection than a Delta infection, said Dr. Egon Ozer of Northwestern University. 11But experts say that while the virus may infect someone who has been vaccinated, the booster protects against severe infection. 12"The vaccines are going to protect you against severe disease, hospitalization and death," said Long. "And that's really the most important thing." 13Natural Immunity? 14Having already suffered a COVID-19 infection does not appear to offer much protection against Omicron. However, as with vaccination, it may reduce the chances of severe illness. 15In South Africa, Omicron has already spread widely. Scientists reported a jump in reinfections that they had not seen from the two previous variants. 16In Britain, a report from the Imperial College of London on Friday found the risk of reinfection from Omicron was five times higher compared to the earlier Delta variant. 17Health experts say anyone who has had COVID-19 still should get vaccinated. 18Why does Omicron spread so fast? 19Scientists are trying to figure out what makes Omicron so contagious. 20Researchers in Hong Kong recently reported that Omicron may spread more quickly in the lungs than Delta spread, but it does not spread as deep in the lungs as Delta. 21What scientists cannot measure is human behavior. Many places have been easing pandemic restrictions, which has helped the virus to spread. Also, winter has forced gatherings indoors, and travel has increased just as Omicron began spreading. 22Is Omicron causing milder illness? 23Scientists say it is still too early to know if Omicron is milder, especially because there have been so many breakthrough infections. However, if a vaccinated person gets infected, it should be a milder illness than if an unvaccinated person gets infected from Omicron. 24Early reports from South Africa suggested milder illness. But doctors were unsure whether that is because the population is younger. The British study also found no evidence that Omicron has been milder than Delta, even in young adults. 25Dr. Jacob Lemieux researches variants for a group led by Harvard Medical School. "There's a hint, and I think many of us are hopeful, that Omicron will be less severe," he said. 26Who is most at risk? 27Based on other variants, scientists think that older people, and those with underlying health conditions are more likely to have severe disease. 28"I don't think it's going to be any different" than other variants, said Dr. Carlos del Rio of Emory University. 29During the holidays, experts agree that in addition to getting vaccinated and boosted, people should take basic safety measures: wear face coverings, avoid crowds, and practice social distancing. 30I'm Dan Novak. 31The Associated Press reported this story. Dan Novak adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 32_________________________________________________ 33Words in This Story 34variant - n. something that is different in some way from others of the same kind 35contagious - adj. able to be passed from one person or animal to another by touching 36booster - n. an additional amount of something that strengthens an earlier treatment, such as a vaccination 37antibody - n. a substance produced by the body to fight disease 38hint - n. a small piece of information that helps you guess an answer or do something more easily