COVID Variants Are Still Out There-- Get the Jab!

Back in July, I gave you a rundown on the list of known variants of the coronavirus.  Now, we have additional variants to report and some updates on the existing variants:

Alpha Variant (aka, the U.K. variant): originally a highly transmissible variant, with a higher chance of hospitalization/death than the "wild"version.  In North America, it has been largely overtaken by Delta.  Still a variant of concern.

Beta variant (aka, the South African variant): Source of the second wave in South Africa, but not as transmissible as Alpha.  Some versions of the vaccines may not be as effective against Beta.  Still a variant of concern.

Gamma variant (aka, the Brazil variant): more likely to infect younger people, and more likely to result in reinfections.  Some of the vaccines are less effective against Gamma.  Still a variant of concern.

Delta variant (aka, the India variant): Still the dominant source of infections in the U.S.

Epsilon variant (aka, the California variant): out-competed by the more transmissible Alpha, and no longer a variant of interest.

Zeta variant (aka, the Rio de Janeiro variant): no longer a variant of concern/interest

Eta variant (aka, the Nigerian variant): still unknown if more transmissible or if it causes more severe disease.  Vaccines still appear to be effective against it.  Appears to have been out-competed by the Alpha and Delta variants-- no longer a variant of concern/interest.

Theta variant (aka, the Philippine variant): no longer a variant of concern

Iota variant (aka, the New York city variant): out-competed by the more transmissible Alpha and Delta variants-- no longer a variant of concern/interest.

Kappa variant (aka, the Indian variant): believed to be more transmissible than Delta, but unknown whether it causes more severe disease.  Vaccines still appear to be effective against it, and is no longer a variant of concern/interest.

Lambda variant (aka, the Peruvian variant): "downgraded" to a variant of interest

Mu variant (aka, the Colombia variant):  is likely more transmissible, but unknown if causes more severe disease. Vaccines still appear to be effective against it.  Continues to be a variant of interest.

Omicron variant (aka, the second South African variant): newly designated as a variant of concern, it is known to have a large number of mutations that could increase transmissibility or resistance to existing vaccines.

Note: The World Health Organization skipped Nu to avoid confusion with the word “new”. They also skipped Xi in an effort to avoid antagonizing China and its leader Xi Jinping.

The bottom line is still the same:  Get the vaccine.  YOU DIDN'T GO TO MED SCHOOL AND YOU DON'T KNOW BETTER THAN A REAL DOCTOR.  IGNORE WHATEVER YOU HEARD ON FOX, OAN, OR FACEBOOK-- GET THE FUCKING VACCINE!  As long as this virus continues to live on (even if it doesn't cause you to get sick), it can mutate to become a more dangerous version.