The fight against the coronavirus continues. Here’s what you need to know about the COVID-19 variants in 2022 so you can stay informed and safe.

The coronavirus is proving as robust as the ongoing attempts to contain and eradicate it, and the list of COVID-19 variants in 2022 continues to evolve. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is keeping pace, providing regularly updated information and best practice recommendations to help the public stay as safe as possible.

However, there is still confusion over the coronavirus variants, despite the CDC’s best efforts to educate as many people as possible and encourage them to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine and booster dose. Many are struggling to understand what makes one form of COVID-19 different from another. This guide will clarify the differences between the variants that have made news, and explain how ModRN Health can make prescriptions cheaper in these challenging times.

Digging into the Delta variant

The Delta B.1.617.2 COVID-19 variant was first recorded in India in October 2020 before spreading into Europe and beyond. Immediately, it was a variant of concern because it was at least 50 percent more transmissible, and up to twice as contagious as previous variants. Symptoms were the same as its predecessors, but appeared more quickly and showed marked aggressiveness toward the respiratory tract if they advanced into fully blown COVID-19.

Scientists expected the Delta variant to become the dominant form of COVID-19 by the middle of 2021 and were proven correct as the number of cases rose. Vaccines that had proven effective against previous strains struggled against this sars-cov-2 variant and lost efficacy by as much as 15 percent . However, while there were still breakthrough infections, vaccinated individuals still fared far better than unvaccinated when coming into contact with Delta. The best results saw vaccinated individuals merely experiencing “bad cold” symptoms.

Monoclonal antibodies approved by the FDA were also effective in reducing the odds of Delta variant infection and handling any subsequent illness. Delta was eventually overtaken by Omicron as the most contagious strain of COVID-19 variants in 2022, though.

What to know about the Omicron variant

The Omicron variant was first recorded in South Africa in November 2021, and had become the dominant variant in the United States by the following month. The global spread was just as rapid, leading the CDC to release a December 2021 resource priming the world to expect Omicron to hit hard going into 2022. A major factor was that asymptomatic and/or vaccinated individuals could spread the new variant.

Fast forward to today, and the CDC and other medical organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO) are still collaborating to monitor Omicron and learn more about the efficacy of Pfizer, Moderna and other vaccines, as well as various treatment options. They are also monitoring the spread and severity of infection of this variant, which is not an easy task, since the variant is being transmitted faster than the preceding Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants. There is a significant degree of variability based on key factors like age, pre-existing health conditions, and current vaccination levels, but how potential Omicron infection manifests is very similar to preceding variants – as is how individuals are affected.

One bright side is that the Omicron variant was noted for causing milder disease symptoms than its predecessors, despite its higher transmissibility. This was not universally the case, however, and the CDC continues to urge the public to take Omicron seriously – not least because of the existence of breakthrough cases .

The “stealth” variant of Omicron

Omicron is not the only potent COVID-19 variant in 2022. A subvariant of Omicron (designated Omicron BA.2 ) appeared in February 2022 and has been called the “stealth” variant. It has been detected in at least 88 countries and multiple regions of the United States. This mutation gained its nickname due to lacking readily identifiable features present in the original Omicron strain, or BA.1, and carrying a noted dissimilarity in the spike protein.

Stealth Omicron is still detectable, despite its moniker. However, data has not shown BA.2 to be significantly worse than its predecessors. Existing vaccine measures are expected to handle both BA.1 and BA.2 infection, and it so far does not seem to be more virulent or transmissible than BA.1.

Staying safe regardless of variant type

The CDC and its research partners recommend responsible testing (using PCR tests or lateral flow antigen tests) in tandem with an up-to-date vaccination schedule and booster shots as the best tools in fighting all COVID-19 variants in 2022. Other preventative measures that have showed efficacy against Omicron include:

• Masking
• Environmental cleansing
• Social distancing
• Antibody treatments (monoclonal antibodies)
• And other measures

Staying home if you think you may have been infected is another great way to stop the spread. Know the general symptoms and speak to your care provider about any COVID-19 doubts or concerns. The COVID Data Tracker is also recommended as a comprehensive resource to stay informed.

How ModRN Health can help make pandemics less financially stressful

The widespread effects of this pandemic have been more than medical. Many people have been left unemployed or suffered reductions in available work hours, making the already-challenging feat of affording regular prescriptions that much harder.

ModRN Health is easing the burden for millions of people by helping them find the cheapest prices on medications at the nearest outlets. We may be able save you up to 80 percent on your current prescription expenses while providing easy access to your prescription history and redeemable reward points for every prescription you fill with us.

Open a free account today to learn more about how ModRN Health can help you look after your body and your budget.

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