‘There’s still time to get your booster’ before Omicron wave
Alabama’s first case of the Omicron variant was diagnosed Thursday, Dec. 16.
Less than a week after the first case of the Omicron variant was detected in Alabama, USA Health is urging employees and the community to prepare for a COVID-19 surge.
“This will probably hit us in the next two to three weeks,” said Michael Chang, M.D., chief medical officer for USA Health. “There’s still time to get your booster before this wave hits us.”
The first case of the Omicron variant in Alabama was diagnosed Thursday, Dec. 16, in a resident in the West Central Public Health District, which includes Lamar, Fayette, Walker, Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Sumter, Greene, Hale, Perry, Bibb and Chilton counties, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health.
Although there is more to learn about the new variant, scientists say Omicron is far more infectious than the Delta variant, which hit Alabama hard this past summer, and it is expected to become the dominant variant in the U.S. While two doses of the current COVID-19 vaccines may not prevent infection, they are expected to protect against severe disease, hospitalization and death, according to the CDC. Getting a booster shot provides an additional level of protection against infection, Chang said.
“If you’re fully vaccinated and are six months or more out from those vaccines, get your booster shot,” he said. “And any employee who is not vaccinated is required to wear an N95 mask while in our facility.”
Chang was referring to the USA Health Universal Masking Policy, implemented in August, which requires all unvaccinated employees, students, essential vendors and contract workers to wear an N-95 mask while in any USA Health facility. Vaccinated personnel may wear a procedural or privately owned mask.
Even as hospitalizations have plateaued since the worst weeks of the Delta variant, USA Health has maintained pandemic precautions, such as requiring a negative COVID-19 test for patients prior to procedures, Chang said.
He praised employees for their hard work and resilience during the stress of the pandemic. “This wave is going to be very quick and move through the whole country,” he said. “We’re operationally ready for whatever comes.”
To schedule a Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine or booster, go to www.c19vaccine.southalabama.edu.
