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Albuquerque doctor recommends caution amid new omicron COVID-19 variant

Albuquerque doctor recommends caution amid new omicron COVID-19 variant
ALL OF THIS STEPHANIE. HEY SHELLEY, AS MYAN COUNTRIES INCLUDING THE US SRTTA IMPOSING TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS BECAUSE OF THOSE OMICRON CASES LOCAL DOCTORS HERE AT LOVELACE HOSPITALS. SAY THE BESTAY W TO PROTECT YOURSELF IS TO DO THINGS. WE ALREADY KNOW HOWO T DO LIKE WEARGIN OUR MASKS SOCIALLY DISTANCE AND CONSTANTLY WASHING OUR HANDS. NEW AND CHANGING VARIANTS ARE NORMAL. THIS IS EXPECTED. WE KNOW. VIRUS MUTATE IN FACT THE SCIENTISTS HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT ALL OF THE MUTATIONS ALL THE WAY THROUGH THIS COURSE TRYING TO FIND WHICH MUTATIONS ARE IMPORTANT AND HOW MHUC THE VACCINE COVERS THOSE MUTATIONS AS OF RIGHT NOW. THERE’S NOT ENOUGH INFORMATION ABOUT THE NUVARNTIA TO DETERMINE HOW POWERFUL ITS, I BUT DR. SANDOVAL SAYS VACCINESRE A STILL THE BEST TOOL OF PROTECTION. WE DON’T KNOW EXACTLY HOW MUCH AT THIS POINT, BUT WE KNOW IT’S STILL GOING TO PROVIDE PROTECTION AND IT STILL PROTECTS US AGAINSTHE T VARIANT WHICH IS HERE RIGHT NOW. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT SCIENTISTS LLWI BE ABLE TO CHANGE VACCINES IF NECESSARY. WE KWNO THAT WITH THE MRA VACCINES THEYAN C CHANGE THOSE VACCINES RELATIVELY QUICKLY IF THEY NEED TO BECAUSE VACCINE PROTECTION WEARS OFF AFTER SIX MONTHS, SHE SAYS IT’S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT TO G AET BOOSTER. WE WANT TO KEEP OUR IMMUNITY AS HIGH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN BY TTGEING THAT BOOSTER AND KEEP IN MIND FROM THE TIME YOU GET THE BOOSTER IT TAKES ABOUT TWO TO THREE WEEKS FOR YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM. CU DOCTORS HERE AT LOVELACE HOSPITAL TELL ME THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE HOSPITAL HOSPITALIZED AND IN THE ICU CONTINUE TOE B UNVACCINATED PEOPLE AGASTIN CID
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Albuquerque doctor recommends caution amid new omicron COVID-19 variant
The new omicron variant is starting to be seen around the world and here in New Mexico, doctors are continuing to practice caution. As many countries including the U.S. are imposing travel restrictions because of the omicron cases, local doctors say the best way to protect yourself is to maintain social distance, continue wearing masks and constantly wash your hands. Health experts say new and changing variants are normal.Dr. Vesta Sandoval, Lovelace Hospital “This is expected. We know the virus mutates and in fact the scientists have been looking at all the mutations all the way through this course trying to find which mutations are important and how much the vaccine covers those mutations.” Right now there's not enough information about the new variant to determine how powerful it is but Sandoval says vaccines are still the best tool of protection.Sandoval said, “We don't know exactly how much at this point but we still know it is going to provide protection. And it still protects us against the delta variant that is still here right now.” The good news is that scientists will be able to change vaccines if necessary. “We know that with the mRNA vaccines, they can change those vaccines quickly if they need to,” Sandoval said. Because the COVID-19 vaccine protection wears off after six months, Sandoval said it's even more important to get a booster shot. Sandoval said, “We want to keep our immunity as high as we can by getting that booster. And keep in mind by the time you get the booster it takes 2-3 weeks for your immune system to pick up.”

The new omicron variant is starting to be seen around the world and here in New Mexico, doctors are continuing to practice caution.

As many countries including the U.S. are imposing travel restrictions because of the omicron cases, local doctors say the best way to protect yourself is to maintain social distance, continue wearing masks and constantly wash your hands.

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Health experts say new and changing variants are normal.

Dr. Vesta Sandoval, Lovelace Hospital “This is expected. We know the virus mutates and in fact the scientists have been looking at all the mutations all the way through this course trying to find which mutations are important and how much the vaccine covers those mutations.”

Right now there's not enough information about the new variant to determine how powerful it is but Sandoval says vaccines are still the best tool of protection.

Sandoval said, “We don't know exactly how much at this point but we still know it is going to provide protection. And it still protects us against the delta variant that is still here right now.”

The good news is that scientists will be able to change vaccines if necessary.

“We know that with the mRNA vaccines, they can change those vaccines quickly if they need to,” Sandoval said.

Because the COVID-19 vaccine protection wears off after six months, Sandoval said it's even more important to get a booster shot.

Sandoval said, “We want to keep our immunity as high as we can by getting that booster. And keep in mind by the time you get the booster it takes 2-3 weeks for your immune system to pick up.”