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Doesn't it go: influenza < SARS-CoV-2 < SARS-CoV-2 delta <= SARS-CoV-2 omicron? At least for how transmissible each is. The disease covid would depend on which

Doesn't it go: influenza < SARS-CoV-2 < SARS-CoV-2 delta <= SARS-CoV-2 omicron? At least for how transmissible each is. The disease covid would depend on which variant you contract. Yes I know influenza isn't a corona virus. My point partly being we've become complacent at just how dangerous SARS-CoV-2 is and its variants are probably worse, but at the very least they're more transmissible. I think omicron is seen as less severe because so many people have had at least one shot of the vaccine. It's slamming anyone who is not vaccinated at all most ICUs are 75% un-vaccinated, the remaining two shot no booster, or two shots plus a booster, or two shots plus booster but elderly and sick. It's like MMR vaccine nobody is asking why doesn't everyone have measles, mumps, and rubella - because nearly everyone has been vaccinated for those.

throwawayboise 5y ago
Also the MMR vaccine actually works as a vaccine. It does not just reduce symptoms while allowing infection and transmission.
- mlyle 5y ago
  The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines seem to do all of these: they reduce infection; reduce chance of symptoms given infection; and reduces the chance of severe illness given symptoms. It's much less so for Omicron than for past variants. MMR is similarly effective at infection vs. mumps as the mRNA vaccines are against infection with pre-Omicron SARS-CoV-2. Transmission is a harder question: if you prevent infection in a bunch of people, but also create more asymptomatic people who are likely to go out and about: which effect wins out?
mlyle 5y ago
> but at the very least they're more transmissible. The "more transmissible" may be partially confounded by novelty. E.g. what's influenza's R0 in an immunologically naive population? Who knows. Vaccination doesn't fully answer what the equilibrium transmissibility will be. either, because there's things like mucosal immunity. > I think omicron is seen as less severe because so many people have had at least one shot of the vaccine. So far the (weak) evidence we have points to both: - A somewhat lower severity of infection from omicron than delta regardless of vaccination status. - Moderate protection against severe disease from a 2 shot mRNA vaccine series, and pretty good protection against severe disease after a recent 3rd booster shot. So, that is, it's not one or the other, it's both: Omicron is probably less severe overall and has its severity reduced further by vaccination.

throwawayboise 5y ago

Also the MMR vaccine actually works as a vaccine. It does not just reduce symptoms while allowing infection and transmission.

mlyle 5y ago
The mRNA COVID-19 vaccines seem to do all of these: they reduce infection; reduce chance of symptoms given infection; and reduces the chance of severe illness given symptoms. It's much less so for Omicron than for past variants. MMR is similarly effective at infection vs. mumps as the mRNA vaccines are against infection with pre-Omicron SARS-CoV-2. Transmission is a harder question: if you prevent infection in a bunch of people, but also create more asymptomatic people who are likely to go out and about: which effect wins out?

mlyle 5y ago

> but at the very least they're more transmissible. The "more transmissible" may be partially confounded by novelty. E.g. what's influenza's R0 in an immunologically naive population? Who knows. Vaccination doesn't fully answer what the equilibrium transmissibility will be. either, because there's things like mucosal immunity. > I think omicron is seen as less severe because so many people have had at least one shot of the vaccine. So far the (weak) evidence we have points to both: - A somewhat lower severity of infection from omicron than delta regardless of vaccination status. - Moderate protection against severe disease from a 2 shot mRNA vaccine series, and pretty good protection against severe disease after a recent 3rd booster shot. So, that is, it's not one or the other, it's both: Omicron is probably less severe overall and has its severity reduced further by vaccination.