Though many feel that infection from omicron is unavoidable, health experts say people should not abandon preventive public health measures.
As the super-contagious omicron variant sweeps Chicago, pushing case count graphs vertical, some people who assumed they were safe from infection after they got their vaccines are entering a new psychological stage of the pandemic: a sense that infection is unavoidable., told the Tribune last week. “I feel like there’s nothing we can do to keep from getting it. I feel like it’s inevitable. At this point it’s a dreary resignation instead of a dread or fear.
While such feelings are understandable, health experts say, people should not abandon preventive public health measures at the height of COVID-19’s latest surge.
And even people who are vaccinated and boosted could infect a child under 5 who isn’t eligible for vaccination, or a more vulnerable adult.Carnethon worries that the messaging about omicron infections being milder than other variants is “really misleading.” Carnethon said it was too early to know what the risk of long COVID from an omicron infection is in people who are vaccinated and boosted. Those who are vaccinated and boosted have seemed to be at “slightly lower” likelihood of developing long COVID from infections with other variants. “That’s the only extrapolation we can make,” she said.
But taking precautions can still help prevent infection. Despite being boosted, Carnethon herself contracted COVID, along with her husband. But neither of their vaccinated children did. Carnethon said she might allow her vaccinated kids to attend a birthday party masked, depending on the setting, but would plan to pick them up before any food was served. She’s comfortable with having her kids play with others while masked in a bigger, open space with high ceilings — even indoors — but would avoid crowded venues. If eating or drinking is a central feature of an activity, she’d skip it.
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