# The Omicron Variant **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [November 29, 2021, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134 "2021-11-29T13:54:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2021, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/21 "2021-11-30T20:12:17Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > BTW looking at the thread title, “The Omicron Variant” totally sounds to me like a title for a thriller or scifi novel. That’s because we’re living in a thriller/sf novel these days. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2021, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/22 "2021-11-30T20:16:57Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > > [@puzzlegal](#): > > > > Until this news came out, we were on-track to have a global vaccine surplus around June. > > At this point, every adult in the US who wants to be vaccinated already is vaccinated. Many of us will want a Omicron jab if that becomes a thing, but that won’t really be a big problem. I think this might cause a month delay at best. I said “global”, not “national”, There are still vaccine shortages in many poorer countries. There are also distribution issues. But there is still a global vaccine shortage, and one of the arguments against the US and other wealthy nations recommending booster shots was that it means those countries will buy more vaccine, potentially keeping it from poorer nations. But – until Omicron, we were on track to get past that, and have a global surfeit sometime in 2022. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2021, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/23 "2021-11-30T20:23:50Z")
I understand what you were saying, but as the US one of the largest users of the vaccines, its important to remember that due to the anti-vax folks out there, the demand in the US for boosters isn’t going to change due to Omicron. We can still work on the global shortage because that’s what’s really important. Ain’t nobody gonna be safe 'til all of us is safe. Omicron is here because of the vaccine shortage and reluctance. Getting poor nations vaccinated is in our best interests and I like to pretend that our current administration understands this. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2021, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/24 "2021-11-30T23:09:34Z")
So, no sooner than we all just got ourselves boostified, we’re gonna have to go get ourselves re-boostified again? ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2021, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/25 "2021-12-01T13:28:01Z")
I’m afraid this is going to be like the flu. There will routinely be new variants, and one shot just can’t last. The good news (at least so far), however, is that people who do get COVID-19 after being vaccinated are not getting it nearly as bad as the unvaccinated amongst us. The huge majority of hospitalizations and deaths have been statistically shown to be the unvaccinated. The exception, of course, are people who are already compromised by other conditions. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2021, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/26 "2021-12-01T15:24:08Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > I’m afraid this is going to be like the flu. There will routinely be new variants, and one shot just can’t last. And you get a new shot every year for the new strains and keep an eye out for any that turn out to be particularly bad, rather than have national emergencies across the world every time there is a “variant of concern” detected anywhere. (It will help if eventually it stops being a point of political pride to dismiss it.) ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2021, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/27 "2021-12-01T15:39:53Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > I just wonder if we’re officially changing the pronunciation of “omicron” to “Oh, my crone” to match the newscasters. More like oh-meh-cron, but yeah, it’s universal in all the newscasts I’ve heard. It surprised me because I’d pronounce it oh-micron and it wouldn’t even occur to me that it was wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2021, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/28 "2021-12-01T15:41:52Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > Ain’t nobody gonna be safe 'til all of us is safe. Omicron is here because of the vaccine shortage and reluctance. Getting poor nations vaccinated is in our best interests and I like to pretend that our current administration understands this. AFAIK, South Africa’s problems is more vaccine reluctance than vaccine shortage. They have enough vaccines. This is a nation steeped in HIV/AIDS denialism. Their former president was the denialist-in-chief. [https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/exclusive-south-africa-delays-covid-vaccine-deliveries-inoculations-slow-2021-11-24/](https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/exclusive-south-africa-delays-covid-vaccine-deliveries-inoculations-slow-2021-11-24/) > **[HIV/AIDS denialism in South Africa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIV/AIDS_denialism_in_South_Africa)** > > In South Africa, HIV/AIDS denialism had a significant impact on public health policy from 1999 to 2008, during the presidency of Thabo Mbeki. Mbeki criticized the scientific consensus that HIV is the cause of AIDS beginning shortly after his election to the presidency. In 2000, he organized a Presidential Advisory Panel regarding HIV/AIDS including several scientists who denied that HIV caused AIDS. > In the following eight years of his presidency, Mbeki continued to express sympathy for HIV/AIDS ... ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2021, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/29 "2021-12-01T19:57:07Z")
> **[First confirmed US case of Omicron coronavirus variant detected in California...](https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/01/health/us-omicron-variant-confirmed-case/)** > > The United States' first confirmed case of the Omicron coronavirus variant has been identified in California. Note he was fully vaccinated–although no booster. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2021, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/30 "2021-12-01T20:11:26Z")
And so it begins, 3 1/3 weeks before the holiday. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2021, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/31 "2021-12-01T20:12:11Z")
As I have seen [in other reports](https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/omicron-San-Francisco-first-case-in-US-COVID-16666494.php), there is no reason to panic if you are vaccinated. Please panic if you are not vaccinated and get vaccinated, will ya? ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2021, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/32 "2021-12-01T20:21:57Z")
The hoops the WHO had to jump through to prevent it from being called the Xi variant I felt were pretty funny. The whole ‘well, there are a lot of folks with last names of Xi so we didn’t want to name it that’ schtick was hilarious since they didn’t seem to realize that Mu is a fairly common Chinese surname as well. 😛 I agree with this based on what we were told in our briefing today: > [@GIGObuster](#): > > As I have seen [in other reports](https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/omicron-San-Francisco-first-case-in-US-COVID-16666494.php), there is no reason to panic if you are vaccinated. > > Please panic if you are not vaccinated and get vaccinated, will ya? No reason to panic, go and get vaccinated and get the freaking booster. Please. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 2021, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/33 "2021-12-01T21:36:17Z")
Indeed, it is sad that because of the politicization seen of this, one has to ask many of the vaccine hesitant to please **panic** also, so as to do what is needed. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2021, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/34 "2021-12-02T12:20:02Z")
Speaking of “Omicron”, I read a PC run amok Facebook post that stated the new variant was discovered in South Africa only because of their alert and brilliant scientists, and it actually originated somewhere else. In other words, calling it the “South African Variant” is “South-Africaphobiac”, and people doing so are being haters. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2021, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/35 "2021-12-02T17:09:27Z")
> **[Latest on COVID: Omicron variant surfaces in Minnesota](https://www.mprnews.org/story/2021/12/02/omicron-covid-minnesota)** > > A Hennepin County man who recently attended a massive anime convention in New York City tested positive. “While this is clearly something to take seriously … it is not a reason for panic,” Minnesota Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2021, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/36 "2021-12-03T01:18:44Z")
Five cases are confirmed in NYC. It’s safe to say it’s spread further than that. > **[New York confirms 5 cases of the omicron coronavirus variant](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/new-york-confirms-5-cases-omicron-coronavirus-variant)** > > The omicron variant of the coronavirus has been documented in the New York City area. ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2021, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/37 "2021-12-03T05:55:56Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Speaking of “Omicron”, I read a PC run amok Facebook post that stated the new variant was discovered in South Africa only because of their alert and brilliant scientists, and it actually originated somewhere else. In other words, calling it the “South African Variant” is “South-Africaphobiac”, and people doing so are being haters. It’s entirely possible that the person who posted that is an idiot. But at the same time, it’s not entirely wrong. For instance, we know now that the Spanish Flu did not originate in Spain – it’s just that Spain was the first country to widely report on it. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2021, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/38 "2021-12-03T12:32:54Z")
IMHO, California, Minnesota, and New York qualifies as “nationwide”, and we still have two weeks to go before the holiday season shifts into overdrive. In that light, our district has already mandated that all staff returning to work on the third of January get tested between 7:30 and 8:30 am that Monday. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2021, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/39 "2021-12-03T16:52:47Z")
A good summary of what is currently known about Omicron: [https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03614-z](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03614-z) ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2021, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-omicron-variant/955134/40 "2021-12-03T16:55:40Z")
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