Omicron is nature's vaccine!

[Shermann]

This is according to Dr. Marty Makary on Fox News Business, who characterizes Omicron as "very mild" and a quick path to herd immunity.

Magical thinking?

[Walleye]

1. Yeah, people are catching it again after being infected before

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Wacko thinking

It's a universal lubricant that will lead to many mutations. The only thing that will seem like herd immunity will be Darwinian, the sick and the weak eliminated. At any given time we're just one mutation away from population collapse.

[Shermann]

5. Interestingly, he may not be wrong

I don't think it's well understood why pandemics end. With immunity from coronaviruses and flu viruses only lasting six months or so, herd immunity doesn't really seem to explain it. So, the idea that less virulent mutations could end the pandemic isn't whacko. What's whacko is taking that idea (which is mostly conjecture) to the bank. The default position should be that the pandemic remains in full effect, and mitigations should remain in place.

[GoCubsGo]

3. When I first read that name, I thought it said, "Dr. Marty Malarky."

Ar, more appropriately, "Malarkey." Because that's what he's spewing. He's a fucking surgeon, not an infectious disease specialist. Meanwhile, Delta is still around, and ravaging the non-vaccinated. This asshole doesn't seem to understand that one doesn't get to pick the strain of which they are infected. Not that Omicron is necessarily "very mild" among those who have not been vaccinated and boosted. I hope this fucker gets disbarred.

[FreepFryer]

4. Infection causes reinfection and is yet more opportunity for adverse mutation (Nt)

Both selfish and altruistic reasons recommend avoiding infection.

Some of the idiots who felt like herd immunity was the way w Alpha are now dead.

[Chakaconcarne]

6. Don't know I would put it that way, but...

There are hints of omicron infection plus vaccines increasing immunity. Certainly too soon to completely discount it or put ones complete faith in.

[Ms. Toad]

7. So are polio, measles, smallpox, mumps, etc.

Even though accurate, we don't encourage people to skip vaccination and go out and get these diseases.

[Raftergirl]

8. After being very pessimistic for a very long time

it just might be that Omicron does the trick. It’s so contagious that almost everyone is going to get it and likely give immunity to everyone. There simply won’t be anyone left to infect.

And it could be how giving cow pox to people gave them immunity to small pox.

A new study out of SA suggested as much.

In the study they found that B cells and T cells provided 70-80% effectiveness at preventing serious illness in those 2x vaxxed with Pfizer and those who had a previous CV infection.

It just takes the B and T cells a few days to become activated, because antibodies are no longer nearly as effective, thus the mild symptoms the first few days in those vaxxed or previously infected.

They believe the B and T cells will recognize other variants of SARSCV19.

People who have no previous infection and were not vaccinated will get more severe cases but several lab studies and real world data also suggest Omicron is less severe as it appears the virus does not get into the lungs as much.

[forgotmylogin]

14. Sadly, I think our only hope...

...is to wait it out and hope COVID mutates to a significantly less-lethal form so it's an endemic flu that we live with.

Natural selection would seem to curve toward the virus being capable of higher transmission levels (and thus ensuring its own survival) if it doesn't kill the host.

Hopefully.

[Raftergirl]

15. I think Omicron is a significantly less lethal variant.

It is definitely extremely contagious. Even the modelers are saying that now, which is why many even believe Omicron will peak in NYC next week, with other large cities peaking mid-January.

But, since other places around US saw later start of Omicron surging US case graph will be more rounded m less sharp, than upside down V, which is what happened in SA and likely UK.

[cadoman]

9. magical thinking indeed -- vaccines are made in a lab and cost billions to produce

I hate to see all the amazing humanitarian work that Pfizer, Moderna and Mr. Gates have done trivialized by makary like this.

Excuse me, I meant malarkey.

Herd immunity is accomplished through proper vaccination. Vaccination boosters are needed when some of the fucking herd are so fucking stupid they won't fucking get vaccinated until laws are made to fucking make them.

The vaccines are safe and effective, WHEN USED PROPERLY. Until the MAGATS are made to fall in line we are all forced to mask and endure another year of terror.

[PufPuf23]

10. Very dangerous thinking.

There is so much that is not known.

[gulliver]

11. Sure. And I guess Delta was a "vaccine" too, as were the original variants.

Compare them to the real vaccines for safety and effectiveness though.

Let hundreds of thousands die, toss a physically and emotionally devastating load on our healthcare providers, raise everyone's insurance rates, slow down the economic recovery, divide the country...to avoid a couple of shots.

Even if Omicron is milder, that doesn't excuse the above in any way, and it certainly doesn't mean people shouldn't be getting vaccinated and boosted. There's no reason not to maximize immunity through safe, effective, and free vaccines, regardless of what natural immunity contributes.

People who don't see that are being asses. I think a lot of them are starting to realize it too. Pretty soon they're going to start looking hard at Joe Schmoe anti-vaxer on Facebook and asking why they let that idiot lead them into the dumbest "political stance" ever.

[totodeinhere]

12. Even though Omicron may on average be milder than other variants, since it so much more

transmissible that means that a lot more people might catch it. So even though a smaller percentage may need hospitalization the fact that so many will get it might cause our hospitals to be overloaded anyway. I think that is the greatest concern.

[Raftergirl]

13. Yes, although the data so far from both SA and UK

is that hospital stays are much shorter with Omicron.

In addition, a lot of the patient's in hospitals with CV were incidental findings, iow, they were admitted for something else but tested positive in hospital.

They are finding similar with children admitted to hospitals in NYS.

[andym]

16. A highly contagious, but very mild virus could end the pandemic

if it elicits a strong immune response that protects against other variants--that's one way how a pandemic can become endemic. Whether Omicron is that virus is an important question that we will know the answer to soon enough. We do know that some will die regardless, as mild does not mean harmless.

[IzzaNuDay]

17. Just because omicron seems to be less deadly

Doesn’t necessarily mean the next variant could be less deadly. I refuse to be lulled into complacency recognizing the uncertainties of virology. I’m going to be a hermit!

[doc03]

18. I have been thinking that myself if Omacron

is less serious than Delta maybe it could be better to get that to build up immunity for something worse. I don't want either but maybe that would be possible.

[JCMach1]

19. Endemic disease. Wait until some unvaccinated hunter brings us the Bambi Variant

Next year ...