Discussing Omicron and a Possible Fourth COVID Shot
Since it began wreaking havoc across the country at the end of last year, Omicron remains at the forefront of the public health discussion. Much has been said about the highly contagious strain of the COVID-19 virus. Tonight’s COVID Chronicles looks at a few facts and misconceptions, as well as the likelihood of a fourth COVID shot.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
The third wave of COVID-19 infections, considered a rash of the Omicron variant, appears to be receding rather quickly. It is described as mild when compared with the Delta strain, however, the public is reminded that there are still hospitalizations resulting from these infections.
Dr. Shanna Pott
Dr. Shanna Pott, General Physician, B.H.P.L.
“One of the things that I wanted to mention with the Omicron variant is the increase in hospitalization in our children. We’ve had quite a few over at Belize Healthcare Partners and I know that Karl Heusner [Memorial Hospital] has also seen a number of pediatric cases that had to be hospitalized who had been severely ill and of children that I’ve known, parents would call me and ask me questions.”
Dr. Jorge Hidalgo also speaks about the long-term effect of COVID on many recovered patients.
Dr. Jorge Hidalgo
Dr. Jorge Hidalgo, Internist, B.H.P.L.
“At probably the beginning of January and by the end of January we were seeing our COVID-19 Unit at Belize Healthcare Partners and we have also seen patients who are required to be ventilated. Again, the Omicron, majority of the cases are mild or asymptomatic but also there are several people that got very ill and the other aspects that we need to mention is that most of them have severe symptoms that we call the post COVID that probably later on we will talk about.”
Will Belize be joining other countries in the hemisphere in administering a fourth COVID shot? It’s a topic of discussion and Dr. Hidalgo has weighed in on the issue.
Dr. Jorge Hidalgo
“We’ve been discussing about the third dosage and some of the countries being a model in Latin America, we were discussing at the beginning the three countries that have the best rate of vaccination, like Costa Rica, Panama and Chile in Latin America. Actually in Chile, they are already starting with the high-risk population with the fourth vaccine, the fourth dose.”
As of today, there are four thousand, six hundred and seventy-four active cases of COVID-19 in the country.
Isani Cayetano for News Five.
