What you need to know about the Omicron variant

Omicron is Hitting Whatcom Hard

PeaceHealth hospital had 45 COVID inpatients last week, the highest number ever. The vast majority of patients admitted with symptomatic COVID disease were not fully vaccinated. Unity Care NW urges everyone to be vaccinated and boosted to prevent a devastating surge of COVID-19 in our community. To make an appointment for a vaccination or boost, call (360)746-3098. There are also updated guidelines from Whatcom Health Department about When to Quarantine or Isolate.

The Pandemic isn't Over Even if We're Over it

For the majority of the vaccinated population, Omicron has been a milder variant but there are still lots of reasons not to let your guard down now:

Hospitals are full. It is true that omicron is milder than previous variants. The vast majority of vaccinated and boosted people will not end up hospitalized if they are infected. But some will still become severely ill.
Being sick isn’t pleasant. For most vaccinated people, getting omicron will still mean feeling like you have a bad cold or the flu.
Even if you’re protected, you could still infect others. Children under 5 are not yet eligible for vaccines, and there are millions of Americans whose immune systems are compromised. No one wants to inadvertently infect a child or ill neighbor.
Reinforcements are coming. Pfizer’s antiviral pill, paxlovid, has incredible promise to reduce hospitalization and death, but only 65,000 treatment courses have been allocated to states. The White House is expecting 4 million paxlovid courses to be available by the end of January. Early treatment depends on rapid diagnosis, and 500 million tests are to be rolled out this month, as well.

Where are we with vaccines & kids?

Kids 5-11 are eligible to be vaccinated to help protect them from getting seriously sick if they get COVID. Call (360)746-3098 to make an appointment for your child today.

Kids 12 and over are eligible for boosters now! The CDC recommends booster shots at 5 months after the completion of the primary series of COVID-19 vaccine for those over 12.

Kids under 5 still can't get vaccinated. What does the Omicron surge mean for them? Hear an interview with a pediatric infectious disease doctor with up-to-date information and advice.

Friendly Reminder

As we are currently in a massive COVID surge it is important to note that all patients are required to appropriately wear masks at all health care facilities in Washington state, including Unity Care NW. If you are unwilling to comply with masking requirements please call us to see if a Telemedicine appointment can work for your needs (360) 676-6177.