Omicron is here, and it's as catchy as all hell. One billion Canadians will have this COVID-19 variant by Christmas.... give or take.
Truth be told, I checked out of the case counting game long ago. I got my COVID-19 vaccinations as soon as I could, as did my wife and my four kids. The youngest two only recently became eligible for their shots, so they're only partially vaccinated. But we're all on board for boosters whenever they're deemed appropriate. Heck, I'd roll up my sleeve and get a third jab now if they'd let me.
The vaccination de-fangs COVID-19. Its purpose is to keep you out of the hospital, and therefore out of the funeral home. We get vaccinated so if and when we contract COVID-19, the symptoms are relatively mild and we recover at home. Clearly the Omicron variant does a good job of infecting the vaccinated, but as I said off the top, I haven't paid attention to case counts in several months. But as an avid Twitter user, the Omicron case count panic is impossible to avoid.
Should healthy, fully vaccinated people become hospitalized with COVID-19, you'll have my attention. Here's hoping that's never the case. Until then, this remains a pandemic of the unvaccinated.
And while we're on the topic of the unvaccinated, I have zero patience and tolerance for those who have chosen not to get vaccinated. With Omicron this contagious, the unvaccinated will soon be filling our hospitals and ICUs and patients with non-COVID ailments will suffer. Imagine your loved one suffering a stroke or getting injured in a car accident, only to learn the ICU is clogged with anti-vaxxers.
I would love to see adults who chose to remain unvaccinated sent an invoice for any and all hospital care they receive as a result of contracting COVID-19. If you say no to the vaccine and end up with this virus, OHIP (and any other provincial health care plans) will not be accepted. Get the jab or pay up.
