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Comment by knaik94 | Hacker News Reader

My takeaway from this at an individual level is get a booster shot as soon as possible if you haven't already.

Can we estimate the severity of this variant on an unvaccinated population based on the symptoms seen in the vaccinated?

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So far evidence indicates, and I'm hoping this is true, that it's about 1/3rd as severe as Delta. South Africa (25% vaccinated?) reports much fewer people going on ventilators or even going to the hospital.

Not sure what a booster shot is going to do for you unless you're particularly vulnerable.

Just to add far less people have been vaccinated in South Africa. I have heard figures between 25% and 40% at the most optimistic. Booster shots only recently approved. Omicron impact seems way less severe than in the first 3 waves we had. Government hasn't instituted any new restrictions. We still ware masks everywhere but that's about it. It is still early days but some anecdotal articles from front-line care workers indicate it is milder [0].

[0]https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/companies-and-deals/omicron-...

Before Omicron, South Africa had COVID under control with very little measures and a low vaccination rate. The only reasonable explanation is that a large fraction of the population has already been infected and acquired immunity that way. This means that data from South Africa is probably not a good measure for how dangerous Omicron is for people without prior immunity.

Yes you are right. Figures of as many as 80%[1] of the population probably has had Covid have the quoted for a while now. So guess the question the SA government has to ask themselves is do they go ahead with the booster shots. For now Covid restrictions are at their lowest since the initial lock down in 2020. I suppose we will know in another month or two when there is enough data.

[1]https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news-fast-news/deaths-data-shows-...

It does seem to help.

Reasonable initial data [0] suggests that if you are over 60 then getting a Pfizer booster does appear to assist.

"The executive summary is that I did find some good evidence, and it has encouraged me to book a third dose."

[0] https://dailysceptic.org/measuring-vaccine-usefulness-withou...

Unfortunately some countries require you wait the exact 180 days from the last dose.

I signed up exactly on the day for my booster. Happy to have it behind me.

By the way, scarcity of the doses is not really a problem -- my country has more than 20M doses in storage.

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