New COVID-19 variant raising concerns

Countries including the United States are imposing travel restrictions and urging caution and vaccination while a new COVID-19 variant, named the omicron variant by World Health Organization, and its impacts are studied.

U.S. travel restrictions from several countries in southern Africa where the variant was first identified went into effect today, and other countries around the world also have imposed travel restrictions on that region, while scientists are telling the world it is too soon to know if the new variant is more dangerous than previous variations.

The variant has raised concerns that it may be more likely to infect people who are vaccinated, although that has not been determined and early evidence indicates vaccine is likely to reduce the chance of severe illness and death, even if it can evade the vaccination.

The new variant was first reported to WHO by South Africa last week, in a region with sharply increasing numbers of new cases reported, apparently driven by the new variant.

Officials are saying it is too soon to know how contagious the new variant is and if it is more dangerous — although initial evidence indicates it likely isn’t more likely to cause severe illness and death — and continuing their message on how to best fight the spread of the virus and people catching it — avoid large groups, wear masks, regularly wash hands and, most important, get vaccinated and get a booster if vaccinated six or more months ago.

Early evidence in South Africa indicates the virus is not more likely to cause severe illness than previous variants, and that more severe cases are predominantly in unvaccinated people. Studies of the new variant and its impacts continue.

After being briefed by Dr. Anthony Fauci, his chief medical advisor, President Joe Biden said in a statement Friday he had two important messages for the American people and for the world.

First, for those Americans who are fully vaccinated against severe COVID illness — fortunately, for the vast majority of our adults — the best way to strengthen your protection is to get a booster shot, as soon as you are eligible,” Biden said. “Boosters are approved for all adults over 18, six months past their vaccination and are available at 80,000 locations coast-to-coast. They are safe, free, and convenient. Get your booster shot now, so you can have this additional protection during the holiday season.

“Second, for those not yet fully vaccinated: get vaccinated today,” Biden continued. “This includes both children and adults. America is leading the world in vaccinating children ages 5-11, and has been vaccinating teens for many months now — but we need more Americans in all age groups to get this life-saving protection. If you have not gotten vaccinated, or have not taken your children to get vaccinated, now is the time.”

He added that the new variant should make even clearer to the world community the need for vaccinations all around the globe.

A readout of the meeting said Fauci told the president it likely would take about two weeks to have definitive information on the transmissability and severity of the variant and its other characteristics. However, he said, he continues to believe that existing vaccines are likely to provide a degree of protection against severe cases of COVID. Fauci also reiterated that boosters for fully vaccinated individuals provide the strongest available protection from COVID.

The U.S. COVID Response Team’s immediate recommendation to all vaccinated adults is to get a booster shot as soon as possible; all adults are eligible for a booster if they were vaccinated six months ago or more with Pfizer or Moderna, or two months ago or more with Johnson & Johnson.

Importantly, adults and children who are not yet fully vaccinated should get vaccinated immediately, the meeting readout said.

In Hill County, vaccinations are available through Bullhook Community Health Center, 406-395-4305; the Hill County Health Department, 406-400-2415; Northern Montana Health Care’s Specialty Medical Center at 406-265-7831 or its Family Medical Center at 406-265-5408; Western Drug Pharmacy, 406-265-9601; Gary & Leo’s Pharmacy, which takes walk-ins; Walmart; and the Rocky Boy Health Center says people can call 406-395-4486 to schedule a vaccination at the clinic.

Vaccinations are available in Blaine County through Blaine County Health Department, 406-357-2345, and Fort Belknap Health Center by calling the public health nurse at 406-353-3250 or the pharmacy at 406-353-3104.

Vaccine is available in Chouteau County at the Chouteau County Health Department, 406-622-3771, and Big Sandy Pharmacy at 406-378-5588.

People can call Liberty County Health Department at 406-759-5517 to schedule a vaccination.