Omicron variant

What you need to know about Omicron: Dr. Jeff Powis busts seven common myths about the newest COVID-19 variant

02/07/2022

COVID-19’s newest and highly transmissible variant, Omicron (B.1.1.529), has swept through Canada at an alarming rate. With the expedient spread of this new variant come speculations, assumptions and misinformation, making it challenging for individuals to decipher fact from fiction.  

Dr. Jeff Powis, Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) at Michael Garron Hospital (MGH), breaks down some of the commonly held myths about this variant, as well as other common questions surrounding the pandemic.

Myth #1: Omicron is a mild COVID-19 variant.

Fact: Omicron produces less severe outcomes than the Delta variant in some people, but it is not necessarily “mild.”

Data from a number of countries suggests that those infected with the Omicron variant experience less severe symptoms than those exposed to the Delta variant. However, it is still difficult to determine whether the “mild” symptoms are due to prior COVID-19 infection or immunization.

“The level of immunity in our population is high related to prior infection or vaccination” says Dr. Powis. “As a result, it’s difficult to tease out if Omicron is milder – or if the mild symptoms are related to the immunity that pre-exists.”

It is important to treat any COVID-19 variant seriously as the evidence continues to evolve. The COVID-19 vaccine is still the best protection against this virus.

Myth #2: That person got COVID-19 because “they weren’t being careful enough”.

Fact: No one should feel bad or guilty for contracting Omicron. This variant is extremely contagious and itis very likely that someone you know will catch COVID-19 in the coming months.

The Omicron variant is the most transmissible COVID-19 variant to-date. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), after the measles, the Omicron variant is the most contagious virus when it comes to transmission between people. Studies show individuals who contract Omicron can infect between 7 and 14 people in an unvaccinated, unprotected population. This is one-and-a-half to two times more transmissible than the Delta variant.

“Given the tremendous transmissibility of the Omicron variant, it’s important that we begin to shift our mentality and perceptions around COVID-19,” Dr. Powis explains.

“We need to reduce stigma around the virus because, despite our best efforts to be cautious, we still need to continue the activities of daily life including grocery shopping, going to work and attending school. When you’re out living your life, you are likely going to be exposed to Omicron and that doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong.”

Myth #3: Only an N95 mask can protect me from COVID-19 in public settings and indoors.

Fact: For maximum protection against COVID-19, wear the most protective medical mask you can find that fits well and that you will wear consistently.

Alongside other preventative public health measures such as hand washing and physical distancing, wearing a face mask is critical to helping to slow down the transmission of Omicron.

COVID-19 spreads from an infected person to others through respiratory droplets and aerosols (smaller droplets) created when an infected person talks, sings, shouts, coughs and sneezes.

Whichever mask you decide to wear, it is most important to ensure it is well-fitted: it needs to completely cover your nose and mouth and snugly fit around the sides of your face without any gaps present.

“I still wear an ear loop mask on a daily basis when I’m out in the community,” Dr. Powis mentions. “It fits my face very well without any gaps.” 

“In a hospital setting, every healthcare worker is fitted for an N95 mask that is tailored to their face shape and size. This way, those who require this type of mask are fully protected from patients and individuals who may have a communicable disease,” Dr. Powis says.

When fit-tested and worn properly, an N95 mask is a valuable part of the personal protective equipment that healthcare workers use in settings where they are caring for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 or during aerosol-generating medical procedures.

Myth #4: It is not safe to mix vaccine brands for my second or third dose.

Fact: It is safe and effective to mix vaccine brands.

“The Pfizer-BioNtech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines use the same technology,” Dr. Powis explains. “Each vaccine contains an mRNA structure, teaching our bodies how to create an immune response to the COVID-19 virus.”

Once the human body learns how to develop immunity against this virus, it discards the rest of the ingredients it is made of and protects the body from COVID-19. A third dose of an mRNA vaccine – either Pfizer or Moderna – offers strong protection against Omicron.

“I strongly encourage every individual to accept the first vaccine brand available to them, regardless of the vaccine brands they received for previous doses,” says Dr. Powis.

Myth #5: Third doses, also known as booster shots, do not protect against severe disease from Omicron.

Fact: Third doses increase protection against severe infection from Omicron and all other COVID-19 variants.

To be fully protected against the Omicron variant, a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is strongly recommended.

Dr. Powis has made hundreds of phone calls to positive patients during the past month. He says there is a drastic difference in Omicron disease severity among those who have one or two doses versus three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“When people receive a third dose of the vaccine, they typically have symptoms similar to a mild cold if they test positive for COVID-19,” Dr. Powis explains. “Those who only two doses more commonly experience more intense symptom; those who are unvaccinated more commonly need to be hospitalized or even die.”

Although the rollout of third doses has begun and many individuals are now fully vaccinated, there are questions around whether or not fourth doses will be required.

“It’s difficult to predict right now,” says Dr. Powis. “Currently, fourth doses are reserved for those most likely to become very sick from COVID-19 or who have low immune systems, such as individuals living in nursing homes or on dialysis.”

Three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are critical to protecting individuals from hospitalization, severe disease and mortality due to the virus.

Myth #6: I do not need to get my third dose if I already had the Omicron variant.

Fact: A third dose maximizes your protection against re-infection and is strongly recommended for all eligible individuals.

If you previously had the Omicron variant, you should still get your third dose to maximize protection against re-infection. If you were infected and had not yet received your first or second dose, it’s also not too late.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends that:

If you are aged 12 and older and were infected with COVID-19 after your second dose but before your third dose:

  • You should get your third dose three months after your symptoms began or if you have no symptoms three months after your positive test date.

If you are aged 5 and older, were infected with COVID-19 after your first and/or second dose, are not moderately to severely immunocompromised and do not have a previous history of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C):

  • You should get your next dose two months after your symptoms began or if you have no symptoms two months after your positive test date.

If you were infected with COVID-19 and are moderately to severely immunocompromised and/or have a previous history of MIS-C, you may be eligible for a shorter interval before your next dose. Please see NACI’s full recommendations here.

“It’s important that you wait these recommended intervals and ensure you have recovered from Omicron before you get your first, second or third dose,” Dr. Powis says. “If you have COVID-19 and are vaccinated while infected, the vaccine may not be as effective. Several studies have demonstrated the vaccine works better if you wait at least one month after an infection.”

Myth #7: Omicron is getting worse; it feels like this pandemic will never end.

Fact: The end of the pandemic is not yet in sight; but this wave, like other waves of COVID-19, will eventually see a downward trend in cases.

It is important to recognize that Canada is still a while away from ending the pandemic. Although we are cautiously observing the hospitalization rates across the province, it’s important not to let our guard down.

“We are optimistic things will slowly start to get better,” Dr. Powis says. “As this virus continues to persist more and more people get infected and become immune. In addition more and more vaccinations increase the population immunity. As population immunity increases this will decrease the virus’s ability to infect people and cause severe disease. When this happens the COVID-19 virus will likely become endemic.”

An endemic is a disease outbreak that is consistently present but limited to a particular region. This makes the disease spread and rates more predictable. Most experts expect COVID-19 to become endemic with peaks in the usual “respiratory” virus season.

“Previous pandemics ended because we developed immunity and the virus could no longer mutate,” Dr. Powis highlights. “COVID-19 has demonstrated the ability to mutate and to evade native and vaccine-induced immunity, so the road to endemicity may be a long and bumpy one.”

The World Health Organization indicates that ending the pandemic requires societies across the world to have much higher levels of vaccination in key target groups. This includes ensuring vaccine equity between and within countries and ensuring all vulnerable individuals and healthcare workers are prioritized for vaccination.

Dr. Powis strongly recommends that everyone receive their first, second and third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“The vaccine is the best protection we have in the fight against COVID-19,” he says. “Getting fully vaccinated helps protect our communities and end this pandemic. It’s a lot safer way to develop immunity than acquiring COVID-19!”

GET YOUR FIRST, SECOND OR THIRD DOSE OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE TODAY

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