With the BA.2 Omicron subvariant “picking up steam in the United States,” about 28 million seniors risk severe illness because they’re unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or it’s over 5 months since they got a booster shot, CNN reported on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 (read story here).
Studies show immunity to Covid-19 wanes over time, and vaccines lose effectiveness quicker in people over 65.
Earlier this week, Pfizer’s CEO said a 4th shot likely will be necessary, with older people expected to get it first, and his company is now seeking FDA approval. He added that “three-dose protection is ‘not that good against infections’ and ‘doesn’t last very long’ against variants like Omicron,” Yahoo News reported then (see story here).
Current vaccines, great for preventing hospitalizations and deaths, reduce but don’t eliminate infection risk. As you’ve probably heard, vaccinated people can still get infected, although they’re far more likely to experience mild illness or be asymptomic.
But Covid-19 keeps mutating, and Pfizer says, “Omicron was the first [variant] that was able to evade – in a skillful way – the immune protection” and more such variants are coming. And for now, a vaccine that protects against all variants, and lasts at least a year, is still in the future.
Some people may use that as an argument against getting vaccinated. But people who aren’t vaccinated by now probably never will be. And that’s like refusing to wear a seatbelt because a car crash might kill you anyway.
Yes, it might. I got vaccinated and boosted, and I wear seatbelts. Anything I can do to improve the odds in my favor, I’ll do it. That’s just common sense.