A study published in the Lancet medical journal found that people who have been fully vaccinated and have had a booster shot against COVID-19 recovered from symptoms of the Omicron variant more than three days earlier than those with the Delta variant.
The study published last week also found that people with Omicron are significantly less likely to lose their sense of smell, and confirmed previous research that it is less severe.
The swifter recovery suggests “that the period of infectiousness might be shorter, which would in turn impact workplace health policies and public health guidance,” the researchers said.
The study, which will be presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Lisbon, also found that only 17 percent of those with Omicron lost their sense of smell, compared to 53 percent for Delta. However, Omicron gave a 55 percent increased risk of sore throat, and was 24 percent more likely to develop a hoarse voice. It also found that Omicron patients were 25 percent less likely to be admitted to hospitals.
Study author Cristina Menni of King’s College London said it was the first peer-reviewed paper with a large number of participants that looked at the different symptoms of the two variants.
The study confirmed what we already know: that Omicron is less severe than Delta and that full vaccination and boosters are effective against COVID-19.
As we brace for the coming surge in infections, which could be caused by either the Omicron BA.2 variant or worse, we will need to shore up our remaining defenses if we are to preserve the sizable but fragile gains we have made over the past few months. As continued vaccination, full vaccination, and booster doses will help our societies deal with the coronavirus better, we cannot let our guard down and must continue to cooperate with government as it strives to inoculate as many people as possible in a bid to end the pandemic.
Let’s not let this chance at beating the pandemic within the next few months slip away.*
