Will the Current Vaccine Work Against the Omicron Variant?

The Omicron variant of the Covid-19 virus has taken the world by storm and is causing peak levels of Covid-19 infections akin to the first and second wave. There are questions arising on the efficacy of current Covid-19 vaccines on the Omicron variant, and studies are ongoing on the subject. The effects of the Omicron variant are said to be milder in vaccinated individuals and can be more severe in those who are yet unvaccinated. But the goal of vaccine makers is to minimise a Covid-19 infection...
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What all Vaccine Variants are Recommended for Teenagers from 15 – 18 Years of Age

One of the biggest wins against the Covid-19 pandemic has been the rapid development, production and administration of Covid-19 vaccines around the world. We can safely say that this may be the fastest time in which a vaccine was developed for a particular disease. Vaccine development can take as many as 5 to 10 years, but the Covid-19 vaccine was developed at an unprecedented speed. However, one reason for the quick development is the existence of data for the Sars-Cov-1 outbreak in 2002, which...
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Symptoms to Watch out for and to not Ignore as Common Cold and Cough – Could Be Omicron, Get Tested at Early Stages

The third wave of Covid-19 is here, and the disease is raging across the world with the fastest transmissibility seen yet. The recent spike in Covid-19 infections has predominantly been due to the newest variant known as Omicron, first identified in South Africa. There is a very rapid rise in infections, especially in India, and one must not take the third wave lightly. The Omicron variant is heavily mutated, and hence its symptoms may be different to the Delta variant. One mustn't take any sym...
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Omicron and Senior Citizens

Even as India started the vaccination program for children between 15-18 years of age, the government also announced booster shots for seniors above 60 with co-morbidities. The booster vaccination drive for older adults started on 10th January 2022. Seniors above 60 whose two doses of vaccinations are complete will receive an SMS to remind them of taking the booster shot. This is regarded as a precautionary measure against the new variant – Omicron, which is considered to be highly contagious. ...
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Omicron and Pregnancy

As the Omicron variant continues to spread across the globe, it has become a matter of great concern for children, the elderly, pregnant women and co-morbid patients. It is heightening risks for this little-talked-about demographic: pregnant women. As an expectant parent, it is perfectly natural to feel concerned about your unborn child considering the current pandemic situation. In this article, let’s get to know more about Omicron and what risks pregnant women can face due to the virus. What ...
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Impact on Omicron in People with Diabetes and High BP

Although the new variant may be milder, health experts suggest not taking the virus lightly. It can pose a severe threat to those with co-morbidities like diabetes and high blood pressure. Whatever be your age, if you have diabetes or a blood pressure problem, you are more likely to catch the virus. Getting yourself tested in the early stages will help you get effective treatment on time and much-needed care. If the symptoms are mild, it means you won’t need to get admitted to a hospital. Your ...
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How the Booster Dose of Vaccine Is Helpful in Tackling the Coronavirus

To prevent the risk of Omicron, several health experts have recommended that people get booster shots. In India, frontline workers and seniors above 60 years have even begun getting these shots so that they are protected against the virus. What is a COVID-19 booster dose? This is a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine that is provided to people after completion of the two primary doses. The effect of the earlier vaccinations may decrease over time; hence, a booster dose has been introduced that...
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How is the Omicron Variant Different From the Delta Variant?

Just when we thought the Covid-19 pandemic was declining, a new variant of the virus emerged that has once again given rise to rapidly spreading new infections around the world. The new Omicron variant is a mutated version of the Delta strain and is not only a bit different to the original Delta strain but also shows differing symptoms in infected patients. Let us look at how one the Omicron variant is different to the Delta variant. Difference between Omicron and Delta variant The main ...
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Does a Teenager Between 15 – 18 Years Follow any Specific Lifestyle/ Diet Advice once Vaccinated?

Rightly so, the Indian government has begun administering the Covid-19 vaccine for children between 15 and 18 years of age. After vaccines were successfully developed by multiple vaccine manufacturer's last years, the world population started receiving their Covid-19 vaccine doses. But initially, only the adult population, which is persons above the age of 18 years, were allowed to get their vaccines. The vaccine was not approved for children below 18 years. The USA was the first to start admini...
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Can one Get Re-Infected if one was Covid Positive / One Is Vaccinated – How Does one Get Infected Even After This?

We're in the third year of the Covid-19 pandemic, and already, the third wave is yet to reach its peak. Infections were declining at the end of 2021, and the world was hoping that the end of the pandemic was maybe near. But that was not the case as the Omicron variant has given new life to the Covid-19 pandemic, which is still raging all over the world. However, this time around, a large part of the population is vaccinated, and that has significantly reduced severe disease and deaths, although...
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