See thread, explaining new study: much higher transmissibility for Omicron on top of antibody evasion causing more breakthroughs and re-infections. Do note that even if milder due to immunity and/or lesser intrinsic virulence, still crucial especially for elderly to get boosters.https://twitter.com/mugecevik/status/1471088936999137281 …
-
Show this thread
-
Still more to learn but... Even lots of mild cases all at once with a small portion of severe cases—as we age, the T cell response is less robust, so breakthroughs can progress more readily—can cause a lot of suffering and overwhelm health-care system. Boosters demonstrably help.
5 replies 15 retweets 93 likesShow this thread -
Plus, there are countries that successfully avoided big outbreaks, but are not fully done vaccinating their population let alone boosting due to supply issues. That makes them vulnerable and making sure they can boost especially their vulnerable populations is of utmost urgency.
1 reply 6 retweets 71 likesShow this thread -
zeynep tufekci Retweeted Charre
Don't have time to recap now (maybe there's a thread) but it's been clear even before Omicron, from high-quality randomized trials, that a third dose is really helpful, including against Delta but now against Omicron. Many vaccines are three-dose series.https://twitter.com/atheistsquid/status/1471121959186407430 …
zeynep tufekci added,
5 replies 6 retweets 77 likesShow this thread -
I think a three-dose primary series now, and a booster later preferably with something other than the ancestral spike but with prefusion stabilization, is quite likely where this may land, eventually. I want to emphasize this makes planning and global equity even more important.
6 replies 11 retweets 90 likesShow this thread -
I'm hearing a lot of reports that, especially for elderly people, negotiating a booster is a problem in many states, with little appointment availability. The bottleneck seems to be logistics and staffing, not supply. At a personal level, check on your loved ones and neighbors!
3 replies 8 retweets 85 likesShow this thread -
zeynep tufekci Retweeted TC
You mean a bit like the flu? Maybe. Miraculous isn't it? Five minutes in a pharmacy and you have the upper hand against this virus, and in a better position than humans have ever been against infectious diseases. I'm in awe of such scientific achievements.https://twitter.com/cavallario/status/1471126023400050693 …
zeynep tufekci added,
17 replies 33 retweets 395 likesShow this thread -
Replying to @zeynep
I hope so. I just think putting a number on it and then going back on it makes it look like failure when it’s not. Better to prime for the possibility that it is like a flu shot.
1 reply 0 retweets 2 likes
Yeah, agree and possible, but we just have the period in front of us for now, which needs global equity.
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.