What can you do to protect yourself from the Omicron variant?

Good news! The same things that protected you from all the other COVID variants will also protect you from the omicron variant. 

• Masks offer protection against all variants. CDC continues to recommend wearing a mask in public, indoor settings regardless of your vaccination status.
• Vaccines remain a key public health measure to protect people from COVID-19.  COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing infection, severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. CDC recommends that everyone 5 years and older protect themselves from COVID-19 by getting fully vaccinated. CDC recommends that everyone ages 18 years and older should get a booster shot at least two months after their initial J&J/Janssen vaccine or six months after completing their primary COVID-19 vaccination series of Pfizer or Moderna.  

Scientists are currently investigating how well vaccinated people are protected against infection, hospitalization, and death. Initial data shows Omicron is better at reinfecting people and infecting people who have been vaccinated. Some data suggests that people who get a booster shot, may be better protected against this new variant than people who do not have a booster shot. 

• Testing yourself before gathering and when you have symptoms. Getting tested with either a rapid test or a PCR test right before you get together with others can prevent you from spreading COVID when you don’t have symptoms.  
• Staying home when you’re sick is an important way to prevent spreading COVID as well as other respiratory viruses. If you have symptoms, you should definitely isolate yourself away from others and get tested.
• Opening windows and increasing ventilation when you are inside is also effective at preventing COVID transmission.

Last update: December 17, 2021, 9:41am ET

Science review: ERS