Coronavirus booster doses are now available for everyone ages 16 years and older, and experts say the extra vaccination will help continue to reduce transmission of the disease.
The omicron variant is spreading in Mississippi, and experts are urging residents to get the coronavirus vaccine to protect themselves and their families. Dr. Geri Weiland, Pediatrician and President of the Mississippi State Medical Association, says experts are still conducting research on the variant and how transmissible or dangerous it can be. She says until there is concrete data, people should continue to get vaccinated as the most effective way of preventing severe symptoms.
“And what we shouldn’t forget even though omicron is here,” says Dr. Weiland, “Delta is still the predominant variant in Mississippi and it still the one that has caused the most trouble for Mississippians.”
Flu and cold transmission is also rising throughout the state, and these illnesses can be deadly under the right circumstances. Those diseases could continue to rise throughout the holiday season, as well as the coronavirus according to Dr. Weiland.
“People are indoors more, they’re around family and friends more, it just lends itself to more transmission,” says Dr. Weiland. “The best thing people can do for coronavirus is get your vaccine. We don’t know exactly how effective the vaccine will be against omicron but we feel like there is going to be some protection. We know that it work against the delta variant.”
