COVID-19 Update: Omicron Variant

Infectious disease experts Adam Lauring, MD, PhD, and Carlos del Rio, MD, join JAMA Associate Editor Preeti Malani, MD, MSJ, for a discussion of the newly emerged Omicron variant, the potential for a 2021-2022 "twindemic" with flu, and the latest COVID-19 clinical updates. Recorded December 1, 2021.

Topics discussed in this interview:
0:00 Introduction
02:17 Mutations in Omicron Variant
03:23 Could Omicron have emerged in a patient with immunosuppression
07:33 CDC steps to respond to Omicron
10:03 Next steps for laboratory testing
11:02 Travel restrictions
11:19 Accuracy of different COVID-19 tests
12:22 Challenges of genetic sequencing
16:28 Therapeutics, monoclonal antibodies, oral antivirals
21:48 Vaccine effectiveness
25:03 Vaccine hesitancy
32:09 COVID-19 and Flu "twindemic"
35:32 Cases identified in the US
36:22 Taking care of mental health for physicians
28:42 What to look forward to

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[JAMANetwork]

Topics discussed in this interview:
0:00 Introduction
02:17 Mutations in Omicron Variant
03:23 Could Omicron have emerged in a patient with immunosuppression
07:33 CDC steps to respond to Omicron
10:03 Next steps for laboratory testing
11:02 Travel restrictions
11:19 Accuracy of different COVID-19 tests
12:22 Challenges of genetic sequencing
16:28 Therapeutics, monoclonal antibodies, oral antivirals
21:48 Vaccine effectiveness
25:03 Vaccine hesitancy
32:09 COVID-19 and Flu "twindemic"
35:32 Cases identified in the US
36:22 Taking care of mental health for physicians
28:42 What to look forward to

[monicahodge]

Why are so many still unvaccinated despite the staggering number of deaths? I strongly agree that misinformation and mistrust of the overall healthcare system unfortunately continues to play
major roles with vaccine hesitancy.

[loril]

Thank you for the update--I've been waiting for JAMA to weigh in on Omicron's severity (we already know about its prolific ability to spread).
Question: Is it true that it might not have originated in Africa, since it was sequenced in the Netherlands before it was identified? Or did that originate in South Africa as well?
I'm a musician, so here's a chorus to the tune of Kodachrome: "JAMA, please take this Omicron, I'm really tired of my home--JAMA, please take this Omicron away!"

[marymacleod]

I know these videos are mostly for health care practitioners, but this member of the general public hopes for a return to regular video discussions on the many facets of the pandemic, if you can do that. Thank you for hosting, Dr. Malani. Great job! Dr. del Rio, are you a saint? ;) And Dr. Lauring, I promise I will distance, mask, and be grateful for my booster (and flu shot) but take all vaccine efficacy claims with a grain of salt for at least a few more weeks. /// I think K-12 and higher ed -- and those who fund both! -- need to take a long hard look at any role they may have played in raising a populace so susceptible to misinformation. I am sad to think that with all the battles you are weary of, fighting vaccine resistence is among them.

[monicahodge]

Very excellent and informative discussions! Thank you so much for your ongoing research and diligence related to greatly reducing and hopefully eradicating COVID-19, Omicron, and any other upcoming variants.

[ascfchen]

Mental PPE is very important for medical team and also for the patients / community people!
We have virtual programs throughout the past 22 months that is really helpful for us to continue share time, experiences, activities and update medical information to keep our members informed and keep them healthy and happy. It is rewarding too!

[faenadiezmann]

So the more people get tested the more samples for sequencing will be available? How do we know that walgreens or cvs are submitting my test sample for sequencing? I also had a test done at Sutter Health Pamf and i don't know if they do sequencing. But it came back negative. That's all i know. :-/
Also, why is covid test free but they also sell them otc?

[martieturner]

Excellent voices and a personal look at where we were and now with new drugs coming out...Thanks to all three doctors! Salute !!!

[geephlips]

Should we be worried that it’s possible for a VOC to emerge in one person? Because it sounds kind of terrifying. Although, to be fair, so does the re-zoonotic hypothesis. If both are possible, what are the implications?

[mvillada]

this is the place to get the scientific information. It is a shame that most people get the info from newspapers and facebook. Not panic just facts

[flagfan]

The more I learn about this corona virus as a lay person the scarier it seems! I feel like an analogy is trying to bail out a leaky boat with a coffee can. Thanks for the great information.

[_EDDE_]

👍 Great honest legitimate loyal content—thank you! FYI: I'm not in the medical field specialized, Product Designer in profession actually, but no high medical knowledge needed to understand what pathogens are and how pandemics can develop, right. Looking forward for more content. Much appreciated. #getvaccinated #wearmask #socialdistancing #weareinthistogether

[circa]

Great information.
But I do believe that in future years, we'll look back and wished we curbed non-essential travel, during this time.
We should hope for the best and prepare for the worst.. we could be brewing up a more virulent variant. We are at a precarious place in this pandemic and are still extremely naive when it comes to SARS CoV 2.

[_EDDE_]

☯️ Thank you for the tips. Yes—so true, balancing body and mind, professional and personal cycle, all important to keep clear mindset. #enjoyingwalking #naturenophones #musicisrelaxing #keepitreal #peacenlove

[NorbertKloseVIOLIN]

Well done and very honest. Great information with pointing out the problems we need to address.

[bernardob]

Great wonderful discussion - this pandemic has been eye opening about the unbelievable forces of misinformation in our society and the failure of the proper authorities (frankly such as the AMA) to combat this. Yes this will involve going to not-so-desirable media outlets and confront horrifically uninformed grand standing…