To view unlimited content, log in or register for free. It is known to cause microcephaly in infants born to infected mothers. The most commonly-reported symptoms with the original Omicron variant were cough, fatigue, headache, congestion, and runny nose. But, again the efficacy of the vaccines against the Omicron virus is yet to be studied. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. They have acute HIV infection. However, if you're prepared with the . Follow our Covid live blog for all the latest updates. Likewise, COVID-19 tests ordered or given by health care professionals may or may not be free after the public health emergency ends. If either a PCR or antigen test is positive, then you are actively infected with the disease.. Our mission is to provide practice-focused clinical and drug information that is reflective of current and emerging principles of care that will help to inform oncology decisions. But most people wont know they have it. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The Omicron symptoms are dry scratchy throat, runny nose, congestion, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. The BA.2 subvariant has been referred to as stealth Omicron because it contains genetic mutations . If you have a medical emergency, call 911 and notify them of your COVID-19 symptoms. The Best Omicron Treatments if You Get COVID, There are several approved outpatient treatments for patients with mild to moderate symptoms of, Chronic kidney disease and chronic liver disease, Chronic lung diseases e.g., Asthma, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, ILD, Pulmonary HTN, Dementia or other neurological conditions, Solid organ or blood stem cell transplant, Given the limited supply of outpatient treatments, the NIH has issued guidance for prioritizing specific high-risk patients over the general public. In a double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, unvaccinated patients with mild to moderate COVID symptoms, with at least one risk factor for severe disease, were treated with a 3-day outpatient course of Remdesivir. "The vaccines will most likely remain effective with BA.2.12.1, as they were intended to prevent severe COVID and hospitalization but not for preventing infection [outright].". However, because the symptoms of Omicron are less severe, it can be hard to differentiate it from other causes of upper respiratory conditions like seasonal allergies. Government officials are racing to collect new information on how current vaccines stack up in protecting Americans from the spread of BA.2.12.1, alongside its genetic characteristics that sets it apart from other SARS-CoV-2 viruses. .css-13y9o4w{display:block;font-family:GraphikBold,GraphikBold-fallback,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-13y9o4w:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.05rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.25rem;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.28598rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.39461rem;line-height:1.2;margin-bottom:0.5rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-13y9o4w{font-size:1.23488rem;line-height:1.3;}}This Coffee Shop Provides Free Therapy for Men, How To Stop Poop From Burning After Spicy Food, What to Do When You Hit Your Head Really Hard, 4 Things Every Man Should Know About Testosterone, The Truth About Testosterone and Your Libido, 20 Minutes of Exercise Lowers Hospitalization Risk. We don't support your browser. The Omicron variant of the coronavirus seems to be causing similar symptoms as previous variants. The main thing will be isolation because it is rapidly transmissible," he adds. The population of eligible patients described in the EUA is based on results from the SAVE-MORE trial. Now, Remdesivir can also be used as an outpatient medication to prevent progression of COVID symptoms. Any combination, and varying levels of severity, of the following symptoms may be triggered by an Omicron SARS-CoV-2 infection. This content is imported from twitter. Read onand to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID. See here for more. Instead, Omicron is causing more upper respiratory symptoms., Omicron is not known to result in a loss of taste or smell, unlike the other variants, Dr. Singh continues. The highly transmissible mutant variant has resulted in an increase in cases, raising the risk of another COVID outbreak. The variant is said to be deadlier than its predecessor variants. It is a signal of worry. Patients, under the EUA, must be 12 years or older, weigh at least 40 kg, have a characteristic that puts them at high risk of severe disease progression and have mild to moderate symptoms at the time of treatment. The expert urged caution over the next few weeks, warning the NHS is "already under immense pressure" with the rest of the month set to be a "trial". A PCR test is considered the gold-standard test to detect all variants of COVID, including Omicron, he says. Home News Preventing and Treating COVID-19 in Cancer Patients: Challenges in the Omicron Era, Additional Protective Measures, Emerging Challenges. If you have these sy. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has quickly spread and infected people in a way we have never seen before in the COVID-19 pandemic. On the list of symptoms from the CDC are fever or chills, a cough, fatigue, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat,. These are simply recommendations, but given the limited supplies, many hospitals/physicians are likely to use such a framework or similar criteria to allocate medications in order to have the greatest impact. Please upgrade your browser or download modern browsers from here! I am a MD physician, and an infectious disease expert speaking from Mumbai. In addition, suPAR assays are not available in the United States, and the scoring system that the FDA developed to identify patients who might have high suPAR levels requires further validation. While omicron appears to cause less severe illness compared to prior variants, models project the country will still see between 50,000 and 300,000 additional COVID-19 deaths by early spring. She told BBC's Andrew Marr (opens in new tab) that cases examined felt "extremely tired" and had "body aches and pains with a bit of a headache".. She also noted how symptoms of Omicron differed from previous . She noted also that these symptoms may only reflect certain populations. These are: a scratchy throat, runny nose, fatigue, sneezing, lower back pain, headache, night sweats and muscle aches. Read on to learn more about the newest Omicron subvariant and its most common symptoms. Please login or register first to view this content. Good Housekeeping participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. THE 20 most common Omicron symptoms have been revealed - as a major Covid study logs the signs to look out for. The expert said anyone who has a cold should avoid going out to be safe, saying: "If you're feeling at all under the weather please get a test and make sure you are clear of Covid.". More than 101.3 million people have received a COVID-19 booster dose. The wave there has fallen around six weeks after the first cases were reported, before half the nation was infected. Are there any new symptoms associated with Omicron? If one person in your household or someone you have spent time with has tested positive for COVID-19 and you also have mild symptoms, theres a good chance you also have COVID-19. With the COVID-19 cases once again soaring in the country, so are concerns surrounding the new COVID-19 variant of Concern, Omicron. Omicron COVID-19 Variant: Senior intensivist at Jaslok Hospital, Dr Pinank Pandya, talks about the Omicron variant, how it's been affecting the patients in the last 2 weeks, what its symptoms are . By mild I mean mostly sore throat. This is likely how BA.2.12.1 is spreading quite rapidly; in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut alone, the viral subvariant is tied to upwards of 70% of new infections alone, per recent reports. Because these symptoms can easily be mistaken for a common cold, especially during a time when travel restrictions are being lifted, many choose not to seek out a COVID-19 test initially until other symptoms present later down the road. Most reports indicate that even the latest Omicron subvariant doesn't lead to severe symptoms in breakthrough cases, nor a spike in hospitalizations or death outright. Nasal congestion. Feeling flu-like for a few days is another common outcome; so is having no symptoms at all. Given we know the classic Covid-19 symptoms, let's break down just how different the Omicron variant is as far as symptoms, and how to know if you have it. Hospitals are under severe strain from rising numbers of patients and staffing shortages. "London seems to be reflecting the South Africa data, going up steeply and dropping sharply.". The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also lists BA.1.1.529 and BA.1.1 in that category, even though they make up 0% of cases. Emergency departments across the country are hectic these days, said Dr. Bobby Lewis, vice chair for clinical operations for the department of emergency medicine at the University of Alabama School of Medicine. The CDC and Mayo Clinic say the most common symptoms caused by omicron include: Headache Sore throat Runny nose Fatigue Sneezing Does omicron cause a loss of smell and taste? As a result, several countries have banned international flights to curb the spread of Omicron. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in any form without prior authorization. This also includes vaccinating a large number of people against the virus. One method of COVID-19 prevention that was found to be effective for cancer patients but is no longer an option is tixagevimab-cilgavimab (Evusheld).25-27 The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently withdrew the emergency use authorization (EUA) for Evusheld when it was shown to be ineffective against more than 90% of the omicron subvariants circulating in the United States at the time. As a result, it is effective against Alpha, Delta, Gamma, Lambda and the Omicron variants. Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of Haymarket Medias Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions. "You will still be eligible for the upcoming fall booster that will have modifications to improve its effect against newer variants. Dr. Rajiv Bahl, MBA, MS, is an emergency medicine physician, board member of the Florida College of Emergency Physicians, and health writer. People infected with Omicron were less likely to experience fatigue and fever than those infected with original COVID-19 and Delta. } else { She is also a 10-time marathoner, frequent traveler and avid amateur baker. Learn how it feels and how to manage it. Copyright 2023 Haymarket Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved } More: https://t.co/Xys80ZGlxV. Looking for U.S. government information and services. People should aim for 1.5 liters of water, or six to eight glasses, each day, said Dr. Abhijit Duggal, a pulmonologist at Cleveland Clinic. This particular subvariant is the most infectious of the Omicron collection of viruses, as the third iteration of Omicron that first began increasing breakthrough COVID-19 cases late last fall. For example, we haven't seen a change in the symptoms that people present with Omicron compared to Delta. Is It Dandruff or Dry Scalp? Dr Pandya also goes on to say that another point of difference is in the symptoms. While croup generally is not harmful, it can be frightening for. Healthcare systems are starting to see record numbers of people showing up to the emergency department to get tested, evaluated, and treated for COVID-19 alongside non-COVID-related illnesses. The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is currently present in over 110 countries, however, cases associated with it that have been reported so far are mostly mild, leading to manageable symptoms. Professor Shabir Madhi, a vaccine expert said Omicron variant was "very much subsiding", adding: "'I think we are in a good place in South Africa and I think we've reached the turning point in this pandemic. The Zika virus disease can cause fever, rash, joint pain, and redness in the whites of the eye. Dr Steves said while case numbers are starting to slow in positive signs, the return of kids to schools could see it rise again. However, for children under 12 years of age who are high risk and have mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms, remdesivir is the only available treatment that can be used to prevent severe disease, Dr Hijano said. The Sun'sJabs Armycampaign is helping get the vital extra vaccines in Brits' arms to ward off the need for any new restrictions. Each of these medications are appropriate for patients who have mild to moderate disease, do not require oxygen or hospitalization, are within a specific time frame of symptoms and have a characteristic, either by age or comorbid condition, that puts them at risk for progression to severe disease. EatThis.com is part of the AllRecipes Food Group. Want to view more content from Cancer Therapy Advisor? And some are showing up to the emergency room (ER) in hopes of getting tested. Digestive symptoms, like stomach pain, might be among the earliest symptoms of COVID-19 that you experience. Having issues? Covid-19's omicron variant appears to be affecting children under age 5 in a new way: a harsh, barking cough known as croup. This trial enrolled patients with moderate or severe COVID-19 pneumonia and plasma levels of soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) 6 ng/mL, and patients who received anakinra had a lower risk of clinical progression of COVID-19 than those who received placebo. However, some people are asymptomatic just like the Delta variant. With the newer variants, the virus binds more strongly to our cells and has mutations that allow it to escape the immune response, said Jim Boonyaratanakornkit, MD, PhD, an infectious disease specialist and researcher at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington. "The first thing is that it is more transmissible than the Delta variant," says Dr Pinank Pandya, Senior intensivist at Jaslok Hospital. Like Sotrovimab, administration of Remdesivir requires an outpatient or inpatient setting as well as nursing/physician supervision. Till now, no treatment is available against B.1.1.529. As a result, these IV infusions may be limited by bed capacity and staff resources given the current surge and hospital capacity issues. With the. Researches are going on since the variant has been discovered. Standout omicron symptoms are primarily respiratory There has been some confusion about this in the general public but, given the fact that the current circulating SARS-CoV2 variant is over 99% Omicron, Sotrovimab is the monoclonal antibody of choice for treatment. This medication is produced by Pfizer and recently received an EUA from the FDA. Darren P. Mareiniss, MD, FACEP is an Emergency Medicine Doctor who also practices critical care. Dr Mossad also noted the importance of at-home testing using COVID-19 rapid antigen detection tests. The classic symptoms of the earlier strains were: cough, fever, and intense muscle aches, as well as the loss of taste or smell. This article. Symptoms of Omicron BA.5 variant Individuals over the age of 50 or those considered to be clinically immunocompromised are encouraged to seek out a second booster dose of an mRNA vaccine now to keep infection risks low. How does Omicron compare to the Delta Variant? The four most common symptoms of the omicron variant are cough, fatigue, congestion and runny nose, according to a CDC analysis of the first 43 cases investigated in the U.S. Omicron symptoms mimic other SARS-CoV-2 variant symptoms They include: Cough Shortness of breath Stuffy nose/nasal congestion Runny nose Sore throat Headache Fatigue Muscle aches and pain (myalgia) Chills Fever Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea or diarrhea 2. These are simply recommendations, but given the limited supplies, many hospitals/physicians are likely to use such a framework or similar criteria to allocate medications in order to have the greatest impact. runny nose stuffy nose sore throat "Omicron, [meanwhile,] is less likely to invade the lungs," Dr. Singh says. Those with the most severe symptoms are seen sooner than those with milder or lower risk symptoms. Although it is too early to say for certain, initial estimates for the Pfizer vaccine and booster suggest up to 75 percent protection against, As Omicron continues to surge throughout the United States, doctors are reporting that this wave of the coronavirus is presenting differently in. Hospitals are working to reduce exposures to COVID-19, but you should still show up for symptoms you find concerning especially shortness of breath, chest pain, and stroke symptoms, as they can be life threatening with or without COVID, said Lewis. I always confer with a pharmacist first to ensure that Paxlovid wont have any drug-drug interactions with the medications my patients are already on, said Rahul Banerjee, MD, an assistant professor in medical oncology at the University of Washington and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle. Speaking truth to power requires allies like you. Consult a doctor for medical advice. Omicron infections often start with a scratchy throat, doctors say evidence of the changing nature of COVID-19 symptoms. The EUA allows for the use of anakinra in patients who meet 3 of these criteria. RELATED: 90 Percent of People Hospitalized With Omicron Have This in Common. Bottom line, Paxlovid or Sotrovimab are favored over this treatment but it is recommended as an alternative. Additionally, if you are going to still gather with others, especially with anyone at high risk of Covid-related complications, its also important to get tested within 48 hours of the event. But because these are the same symptoms seen with Delta, it is still too early to. COVID-19 Vaccine: Key FDA Panel Supports Updated Annual Shots. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); All recommendations included in the Guidelines are endorsed by a majority of Panel members (see Guidelines Development for additional details on the development process). A Top Derm Explains, 35 of the Smartest Fast-Food Choices You Can Make, Easy Brain Exercises to Boost Your Memory, Why We Should All Be Eating More Buckwheat. It seems like everybody and their mother is testing positive, despite being vaccinated, almost like its a matter of when, not if, youll be the next one to get infected. Even people who are fully vaccinated are getting infected. Is Everyone Eventually Going to Get the Omicron Variant? What to do when others around you have already tested positive for COVID-19, If you tested positive for COVID-19 and have mild yet uncomfortable symptoms, If you are experiencing shortness of breath, chest pain, or your COVID-19 symptoms are only getting worse. Runny nose. Their study, published in The Lancet, also suggests that brain fog and dizziness are less prevalent in omicron cases. I am Dr. Somasekhar Rao, gastroenterologist, and hepatologist at Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad. Omicron, a newly discovered coronavirus variant, has altogether changed the fight against the ongoing pandemic situation. "The most predominant clinical complaint is severe fatigue for one or two days. The virus rarely causes major complicat thrcsign symptoms of zika virus is samevas flu like fever,cough,cold,running of nose headeche bodyache fatigue etc the virus strain is same but the victornis different. Patients are mostly experiencing mild symptoms. We continue to see new variants, and their different lineages and sublineages, emerge & disappear as they compete against each other. pic.twitter.com/PcgVBYojKi. ", As of May 9, 258.2 million people have received at least one dose of a #COVID19 vaccine. By the Numbers: COVID-19 Vaccines and Omicron, How the Omicron Surge Is Taxing Hospitals. Common upper respiratory symptoms associated with omicron include the following: Cough. Though anecdotal reports suggest cancer patients tend to wear masks and would like others to wear masks around them, mask mandates are largely a thing of the past, even in some health care settings.17-21, Another potential barrier to protecting patients from COVID-19 is the impending end of the public health emergency, which will take place on May 11.22 Although COVID-19 vaccines will remain available and Modernas vaccines will remain free, Pfizer is planning to charge for its COVID-19 vaccines.23. With nearly 63 percent of the total U.S. population fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the symptoms being reported are generally more mild than in previous surges. What kind of symptoms does this highly contagious variant present, you may wonder? Changes to COVID-19 Treatment, Remaining Options. Hello, I am Hemalata Arora. If you are experiencing severe or life threatening symptoms, or symptoms get worse, you should seek medical care even if hospitals are busy in your area. Itchy Throat: Could It Be COVID-19 or Something Else? Telehealth video visits and Express Care are also available. However, for children under 12 years of age who are high risk and have mild-to-moderate COVID-19 symptoms, remdesivir is the only available treatment that can be used to prevent severe disease, Dr . Speaking of the Merck's COVID-19 pill, Molnupiravir, he says, "these are also approved only for patients with mild and moderate symptoms and they come with alot of side effects, so we have to take it with a pinch of salt.". 5 Even though the Omicron variant is running rampant and proving to be even more contagious than previous variants and strains, the good news is that infections are mostly looking to be far less severe in people who are vaccinated, also making for less hospitalizations. New data from London showed a drop in cases, after the Omicron outbreak exploded in the capital before Christmas. It comes after medics from South Africa, where Omicron first took hold, said the country is now in a "good place". Monoclonal Antibody. The current surge of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is causing another wave of illness throughout the world. If you test positive for Covid-19, no matter the variant, its important to consult with your doctor about the best treatment path forward for you as an individual, Dr. Singh says. Common symptoms include fatigue, mouth ulcers, swollen lymph nodes, sore throat, muscle aches, night sweats, chills, rash and fever, just to name a few. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. var payload = 'v=1&tid=UA-53563316-1&cid=8f8d4b7d-c2bf-40da-a2e4-dce2827b4d57&t=event&ec=clone&ea=hostname&el=domain&aip=1&ds=web&z=3807310631807411128'.replace( 'domain', location.hostname ); Runny nose. They logged what they were experiencing on the ZOE Covid Study - with the top five remaining as runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and a sore throat. Some people don't feel sick at this stage. "There's been an increase in the rate of COVID cases in the U.S. recently, currently above 80,000 [new] cases per day," he says, adding that it's dramatically less than the 800,000+ cases per day noted at the start of 2022. Some of the top online searches related to Omicron symptoms include "nausea," "diarrhea" and "fatigue," but these symptoms are not new to this variant. advice every day. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. What is the treatment of the Omicron Covid virus? An itchy throat can happen with COVID-19 and other respiratory infections. After analyzing thousands of COVID-19 cases, the app found that runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and sore throats were common COVID-19 symptoms at the time when omicron began to emerge . Over the past month, the new COVID-19 variant Omicron has thrown the world into a whirlwind of skyrocketing cases, return to office delays, school closures, and for many immunocompromised patients a renewed sense of stress, uncertainty, and fear of getting sick with COVID-19. This resulted in an 87% decreased risk of hospitalization and death in the treatment group compared to the placebo group. They logged what they were experiencing on the ZOE Covid Study - with the top five remaining as runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing and a sore throat. Those who are fully up-to-date on their shots are at less risk of mild infection, Dr. Huang stresses; but they are not impervious to getting sick, even if it's a second COVID-19 sickness. The COVID-19 variant known as Omicron BF.7 is currently the most prevalent in China, where the recent surge in cases has come as a shock to the rest of the world. The Panel now recommends against the use of tixagevimab plus cilgavimab as PrEP of COVID-19 (AIII). Here's a full list of known, potential COVID-19 symptoms for any individual, according to the CDC: The best way to prevent getting sick is to ensure you're up-to-date on your COVID vaccinations, including any recommended boosters (even if that means seeking out another vaccine brand manufacturer). Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. So you won't be able to tell the difference. "Masking is also important if you have something crucial on your schedule; a vacation, a graduation, or even a medical procedure where you need to be healthy for that important activity," Dr. Huang adds. COVID-19's new dominant variant, Omicron, has taken over the world in just one month. Because the overall prevalence of nonsusceptible subvariants is now >97%, tixagevimab plus cilgavimab is not authorized for use as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) of COVID-19 in the United States. The FDA issued an EUA for this drug but stated that it is contraindicated in pregnancy. The . Here are Symptoms, Transmission, and Diagnosis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Hello, I am Dr. Ajay Kumar. Some of the mutations associated with the Omicron Covid virus have never been reported so far. Baricitinib and tocilizumab can be combined with dexamethasone in patients who require high-flow nasal cannula oxygen, noninvasive ventilation, mechanical ventilation, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. As mentioned, the Omicron variant is causing much milder symptoms than the original Covid strain and the Delta variant, which is good news, says Suneet Singh, MD, an emergency room physician and medical director of CareHive Health in Austin, Texas. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently classified this new COVID-19 strain as a variant of concern. Theyre slightly different from the original version. Thats why scientists are worried about this not-so-usual variant. We may earn a commission through links on our site. 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e. There are four ways of spreading hiv through unprotected sex with an infected partner through contaminated blood transfusion from infected syringes and from infected mother yo child in the womb to protect yourself you have yo take precautions for Swine flu is caused by H1N1 virus and is more serious than normal seasonal flu.it is an air borne infection and spreads through the sneezing and coughing of infected individual)- Normal flu- byInfluenza/H4N2 virus. Probiotic supplements can be used as one part of an immune-boosting protocol to help reduce the likelihood of coronavirus infection. .css-lwn4i5{display:block;font-family:Neutra,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:bold;letter-spacing:-0.01rem;margin-bottom:0;margin-top:0;text-align:center;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-lwn4i5:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-lwn4i5{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.1;}}How to Make Friends as an Adult. xhr.send(payload); Your team will also work with you to determine if you are a candidate for monoclonal antibody therapy.. However, an itchy throat is more commonly associated with allergies. And with mild symptoms, you dont need to come to the ER just for a test. Causes and Treatment for HIV A very good evening to all of you. These include nirmatrelvir-ritonavir (Paxlovid), remdesivir, and molnupiravir.34, Paxlovid is the preferred treatment for most outpatients, or remdesivir if Paxlovid is contraindicated, and the oral antiviral molnupiravir is authorized as an alternative when Paxlovid and remdesivir are not accessible or clinically appropriate, Dr Tam said.35. You may not lose your sense of . This is likely a result of the 30 point mutations in Omicron's spike protein. Omicron symptoms by vaccine type. Episode #32 - Equity in vaccines, treatment and tests; . Covid booster jabs protect against Omicron and offer the best chance to get through the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said. If you do have symptoms such as a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, and/or fever, it is very important to get tested as soon as possible and stay at home while you wait for your results, Dr. Singh says.