Moderna says its booster significantly raises Omicron-fighting antibodies

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/moderna-booster-shot-covid-vaccine-antibodies-omicron/

London — Moderna announced preliminary data on Monday that it said showed a third, booster dose of its coronavirus vaccine appeared to significantly increase antibodies that can help fight off an infection with the Omicron variant. Moderna said lab tests showed Omicron-neutralizing antibodies were low after two doses of its jab, but 29 days after a booster dose of 50 micrograms, they increased about 37-fold.

The 50 microgram dose is given as a booster with the Moderna shot, but the company's data showed that a full, 100 microgram booster dose increased antibody counts even more, around 83-fold.
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Fauci warns Omicron COVID variant ‘raging through the world’
Top US infectious diseases expert warns hospitals in the country could face stresses in coming weeks as COVID-19 infections surge.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/12/20/fauci-warns-of-bleak-winter-with-omicron-raging-through-world


“No matter how you look at it,” he said, “when you have so many, many infections, even if it is less severe, that overcomes this slight to moderate diminution in severity.”

“Our hospitals, if things look like they’re looking now in the next week or two, are going to be very stressed,” particularly in areas of the country with low levels of vaccination, Fauci said.

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California braces for Omicron wave amid grim forecasts, concerns for hospitals

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-12-20/how-are-southern-california-hospitals-faring-with-covid-now

Some doctors are concerned that people are so fed up with the pandemic that they won’t wear masks at a time when transmission is expected to climb.

“My concern — and the concern across the country — is the fatigue with regard to mask wearing and social distancing” as the more transmissible Omicron variant spreads, said Dr. Stephanie Hall, chief medical officer for Keck Medicine of USC and USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. “People are tired. And they’re not sticking with it.”