Coronavirus vaccine and COVID variant updates for 12-23-2021

<p>This is Vaccine 411, the latest coronavirus vaccine information for December 23rd, 2021.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>How about a little good news for the holidays? Modeling by scientists in Scotland predicted 47 Omicron patients should have been hospitalized by December 19 if infection patterns were the same as Delta. So far, there have been 15 admissions. There’s more. The first UK data of its kind shows Omicron appears to have a 20%-25% reduced chance of a hospital visit and at least a 40% lower risk of being admitted overnight. There’s more. A new analysis by the University of Washington shows the Omicron surge will peak in a massive wave of infections by the end of January but produce far fewer severe illnesses for most people. There’s more. South Africa's seen a noticeable drop in new cases in recent days, signaling the Omicron surge has already passed its peak. And Omicron appears to have caused milder disease there with significantly less hospitalizations, patients requiring oxygen, and deaths.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The World Health Organization continues to be very displeased with how countries like the United States are pushing boosters. The White House recently announced a redoubling of efforts to get more boosters in more arms. The WHO Director General warned such efforts in rich countries risks prolonging the global pandemic fight. He correctly points out most hospitalizations and deaths are still from unvaccinated people, not unboosted people.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The FDA authorized the first pill against COVID, a Pfizer drug you can take at home to head off the worst effects of the virus. The pill, Paxlovid, is a faster way to treat early infections, however supplies will be extremely limited at first. All previously authorized COVID drugs require an IV or injection.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Nobody in the U.S. can feel special anymore, Omicron has now been confirmed in all 50 states, and that happened about three weeks after it was first detected in the country. And the message to stop traveling just isn’t sticking.