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December 29, 2021
Omicron Variant: Your Questions Answered
Omicron variant
Q: What do we know about vaccines and this new variant?
A: We have learned that those who are fully vaccinated (two shots of Pfizer or Moderna or one shot of Johnson & Johnson) have just a 30% immunity to omicron. Those who are fully vaccinated and boosted have a 75% immunity. This is highly transmissible, and everyone is at some risk of infection.

Q. Is it true that omicron only causes mild symptoms?
A. It is true that omicron seems to cause mild symptoms in many of those who are vaccinated. However, it can cause severe illness in the immunocompromised and the unvaccinated. A vaccinated person with mild (or no) symptoms can pass omicron on to these vulnerable populations.

Q: What can we do now to protect ourselves from the omicron variant?
A: If it is possible for you to stay home and away from public places, please do so. If you must go to a public place, wear an N-95 mask (cloth masks are not considered effective against omicron).
Vaccination continues to be an important weapon to reduce your risk of infection:
1.     If you are not vaccinated, get vaccinated now.
2.     If you are fully vaccinated, get a vaccine booster.
3.     Make sure all household members who are eligible for vaccination are fully vaccinated and boosted.

Q. If I had the Pfizer vaccine, can I be boosted with Moderna (and vice versa)?
A. Yes, it is acceptable to “mix and match” vaccine types with the booster shot.What is important is to get a booster shot.


Please Note: The January 9 Christmas Brunch has been cancelled due to the huge spike in COVID (omicron) cases.
Omicron Latest Reminder That Global Vaccine Equity Is Critical
vaccine equity
No one is protected from COVID-19 until everyone is protected.

The World Health Organization’s declaration that omicron is a “Variant of Concern” delivers another stark reminder that severely unequal access to COVID-19 vaccines poses grave danger to the world’s population.

The pandemic has laid bare the dangers of having manufacturing capacity for life-saving vaccines concentrated in a few countries where governments have refused to prioritize and mandate sharing intellectual property and technology for rapid diversified and global production. As scientists scramble to determine if omicron introduces additional dangers over other variants, its specter reflects policy failures as some wealthy-country governments and pharmaceutical companies are undermining rapid and equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutic drugs and tests.

Wealthy countries have been blocking an intellectual property waiver at the World Trade Organization and concentrating vaccine production in the U.S. and Europe. This has prolonged devastating cycles of COVID-19 surges, deaths, travel restrictions and lockdowns, allowing the virus to mutate and spread. Click here to read more

Volunteer wanted!
AAHPO requests the assistance of anyone who will be traveling to Moscow from the New York/New Jersey area. Please contact volunteer@aahpo.org if you are willing to help.
This Holiday, please donate directly to AAHPO to support our mission to assist Armenians here and in Armenia.
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Upcoming Events
CANCELLED: AAHPO Christmas Brunch scheduled for January 9, 2022
Our Board & Our Mission

Lawrence V. Najarian, MD, President
Ted Chaglassian, MD, Past President
Garbis Baydar, MD, Vice President
Debra Ferman, MD, Corresponding Secretary
Tsoline Kojaoghlanian, MD, Recording Secretary
Joyce Kurdian, DMD, Treasurer
Louiza Puskulian-Kubikian, DDS, Membership Committee
Arthur Kubikian,DDS, Parliamentarian
John Bilezikian, MD, Aram Cazazian, DDS, Lynn Cetin, MD, Kim Hekimian, PhD, Gregory Kazandjian, DDS, Knarig Khatchadurian, PhD, Lena Merjanian, MD, Vahe Tateosian, MD, Lucy Tovmasian, MD

AAHPO's mission is to improve health care awareness, increase disease prevention and early detection, foster fellowship and career development of Armenian health care professionals, and provide medical support and education to both our local communities and Armenia.

Call AAHPO: 908-914-5549