I read the pre-print study that CNN article cites and it sounds like BA.2 is much worse than BA1. About 30-50% more infectious, plus replicates much faster and forms syncytia (much like delta, a potential link to severity). Those syncytia are especially concerning. Other viruses that induce syncytia: HIV & RSV (literally "respiratory syncytial virus"). The virus induces cells to fuse together, and that helps the virus infect huge clumps of cells more quickly and easily. These syncytia are often found by autopsy in the lungs of deceased COVID patients and seem to be associated with more severe outcomes. So the fact that we have more prominent syncytia showing up with BA2 worries me.
I have been more cautious than probably 99.99% of the population and will not be letting my guard down for a second. I'm devastated that the world has decided to just give up and stop mitigation measures. We know the virus is airborne and thus should be focusing on cleaning the air in all public indoor spaces, especially schools, grocery stores & office buildings where large numbers of people gather. We should have HEPA filters and similar air filtration devices set up everywhere. Why shouldn't people get to breath in clean air and who would argue against that?? We're never going to convince everyone to get vaccinated, but at least we can instill simple measures to clean our environments. I would love to be able to send my child to kindergarten next fall knowing that her school was doing everything they could to filter the air and keep the facilities safe.
The thing is, those who do not want to get vaccinated are worried about the long-term effects of the vaccine, but what about the long-term effects of COVID? That's a huge concern! A large percentage of people are suffering from Long Covid. It appears that COVID is not just a respiratory disease, but also a disease of every system of the body, including a disease of the vascular, immune, and neurological systems. I believe a significant number will suffer from long-lasting adverse effects or even adverse effects that show up suddenly years down the line (like early-onset dementia, reactivated viruses, neuropathy, heart disease, etc). Of course, these issues won't be monitored and there won't be any way to prove it was due to COVID, so it will all be swept under the rug.
I will do whatever I can to protect myself and my family, especially my young daughter, from this vicious disease. Children are a special worry. We don't know what ill effects COVID might have on a developing brain, but we do know that the virus passes the blood brain barrier and attacks neurons. I just really really hope that world leaders are not destroying the lives of our youngest and most precious generation, but letting kids go to school with no masks, no vaccines (only 25% of kids 5-11 fully vaccinated in the US and these vaccines wane significantly after 3-6 months), and no uniform implementation of air ventilation systems, is just a recipe for disaster. It may not show up right away -- although many will continue to die, most have become desensitized to 2800 deaths per day -- but 10-20 years down the road? It is not looking good.
I say this in all earnest as a mom and a pharmacist. I'm crushed.
Worrisome—New lab experiments from Japan show that #BA2 may have features that make it as capable of causing serious illness as older variants–including Delta! And yet as evasive as old #Omicron cousin BA1. #BA2 surging—needs upgrade to VOC asap @WHO! https://t.co/j6P3gwxMTk" / Twitter
