How does omicron compare to other variants?
What You Should Know 3:43
(CNN) -
Since South African authorities announced the discovery of a new variant of the coronavirus, omicron, which contains an unusually large number of mutations, countries around the world have mobilized to implement travel restrictions and precautionary measures.
Minute by minute: concern, restrictions and uncertainty about the omicron variant
There is much that is still unknown about this variant.
As scientists gather more information, the public wants to know how concerned they should be.
Is the alarm around omicron justified?
What is already known and what are the key pieces of information that have not yet been investigated?
Are there things we can do to prepare?
I discussed all of this with our expert, Dr. Leana Wen, a CNN medical analyst who is an emergency physician and professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.
She is also the author of a new book, "Lifelines: A Doctor's Journey in the Fight for Public Health," and a mother of two young children.
Dr. Lena Wen
CNN: What alarmed scientists about omicron, compared to other variants?
Dr. Leana Wen: With the new variants, there are three key questions to ask.
First, is it more transmittable?
If it is more contagious, it could crowd out existing variants and become the dominant strain.
This is what happened with the delta variant.
Second, is it more virulent?
Could it cause a more serious illness?
If so, obviously that is very concerning.
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Third, there is what we call "immune escape," that is, does it bypass the protection of existing vaccines?
The vaccines we have are highly effective against variants that have already been identified.
A new variant is unlikely to render the vaccines totally ineffective, but there could be a reduction in efficacy.
In the case of omicron, what initially alarmed South African doctors and scientists was the rapid rate of spread of this new variant.
It appears to be outpacing delta in speed, but it remains to be seen if it will outpace delta and become dominant.
In addition, the large number of mutations of this variant, more than 50 in total, raises the question of immune escape, both to vaccines and to treatments such as monoclonal antibodies.
These are types of information that we will need to obtain through further scientific studies.
The map of the countries where the omicron variant of the coronavirus is present
CNN: What else are researchers looking for, and how long will it take to find this information?
Wen: We need to answer the three questions above.
At this time, we suspect that this new variant is more transmittable, but that needs to be confirmed.
Also, we have no idea of the severity of the disease that omicron causes.
This is something we can learn more about in the coming days by tracking the clinical outcomes of the first infected people in southern Africa.
Studies are already underway to examine whether the antibodies produced by vaccines will have an effect against omicron.
Dr. Anthony Fauci and others estimate that these studies will take about two weeks to complete.
There are other key facts that we will discover in the coming days and weeks. Many vaccine researchers believe that those who have received not only the vaccine but also the booster will have a very strong antibody response that could cover additional variants. We will find out if this is the case by evaluating laboratory data and real-life observations to see if vaccinated and boosted people are less likely to be infected with omicron. In addition, we do not yet know to what extent recovering from previous COVID-19 infections could protect against omicron.
There is also the issue of testing and therapeutics.
It seems that PCR tests can easily detect omicron.
Can rapid home antigen testing do this too?
The Food and Drug Administration preliminary review suggests yes.
Will monoclonal antibodies, as well as new oral covid-19 pills, work against omicron?
Scientists are working hard to find answers to these questions.
South African doctor recounts the symptoms of the omicron variant 2:43
CNN: If there is so much that is unknown about omicron, are countries overreacting by implementing restrictions?
Wen: I don't think so. For much of the pandemic, we have been trying to catch up, reacting to things that happened rather than proactively preparing. Perhaps omicron turns out to be a false alarm. This variant may not spread as easily, cause serious illness, or have no immune escape. I hope that is the case, but hope is not a strategy.
From a policy perspective, I believe that governments should prepare for the worst case scenario.
That means alerting doctors to the possibility of omicron so they know how to look for it, preparing hospitals for potentially additional capacity, and educating citizens on what they can do to better protect themselves.
President Joe Biden, for example, has urged all adult Americans to receive booster shots, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has changed its recommendation so that everyone 18 years of age and older. receive a booster.
CNN: Does preparing for the worst also include developing new vaccines targeting omicron?
Wen: Moderna and Pfizer have announced that they are already considering omicron-specific vaccines.
In general, it is good to be proactive and start this type of research.
My hope is that we find the vaccines we already have to be effective enough against omicron, especially with the added protection of the booster dose.
CNN: What do you say to those who are losing hope, who see that omicron is taking us back to where we started?
Wen: We are not going to start over.
Far from it.
There are many things that are different now compared to the beginning of the pandemic.
We have vaccines, tests and therapies.
We have the infrastructure to respond to this variant and future variants.
That being said, we must still be on guard and be prepared to implement the tools that we have.
CNN: A lot of people have travel plans.
Should they postpone them?
Wen: If you have international travel plans, I advise you to consider that things are very fluid at the moment.
With so many countries putting additional travel bans or restrictions, you could end up stuck somewhere in mandatory quarantine or no easy flights.
People who are particularly vulnerable to serious illnesses might also want to put off travel, especially with so much unfamiliarity about omicron.
That said, if you have a complete vaccination and booster schedule, and if it is necessary for you to make the trip, you can choose to do it.
Be sure to check the guidelines in the place you visit and in your home country, and be prepared to change your plans based on the dynamics of the virus and various government policies.
CNN: Is there anything people can do to prepare for omicron?
Wen: The same measures that protect against other variants also protect omicron, as it is still covid-19, a respiratory virus.
Wearing masks indoors, physical distancing, and good ventilation will reduce the likelihood of spread.
What can we do against the omicron variant?
These are the effective prevention measures
Federal health officials strongly recommend booster doses.
People who are not vaccinated should get vaccinated as soon as possible.
That includes children who have recently been deemed eligible for vaccines.
Those who have already been vaccinated at least six months ago with Pfizer or Moderna, and two months with Johnson & Johnson, should receive their booster shots.
We have been through a lot together and have made tremendous progress.
We can also overcome this next stage of the pandemic, even with this and other variants.
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