According to information registered by the Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social, the Omicron variant currently represents more than 95% of the genomic surveillance isolates in Colombia. Therefore, a call is made to continue to comply with biosecurity and self-care measures and, most importantly, to complete the vaccination and booster vaccination schedule.

As an additional fact, he pointed out that to date nearly 5 million adults over 50 years of age have not yet received their booster in the country. In view of this situation, all people over 18 years of age will be able to apply the booster anticovid doses four months after having completed their vaccination schedule, that is, they will no longer have to wait 6 months to do so.

Likewise, people who have tested positive for COVID-19 will be able to complete their initial schedule or apply the booster 30 days after they have recovered from the infection.

According to the Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social, research conducted by experts worldwide shows that vaccination against COVID-19, after recovery from infection, provides additional protection to the immune system. One study showed that, in the case of people who already had COVID-19, those who were not vaccinated after their recovery were twice as likely to be re-infected as people who received the full schedule or booster after their recovery.

“It is scientifically proven that Omicron is probably the most contagious virus out there at the moment, but fortunately it is less severe than previous strains of COVID-19. This does not mean that we should reduce our care, on the contrary, we must intensify it to avoid severe cases and hospitalizations”, said the director of UISALUD, Gonzalo Gómez Patiño.

He reiterated that the people most affected to date, by Omicron, are especially the unvaccinated, vaccinated with incomplete scheme, or vaccinated with complete scheme without booster and comorbidities.

With respect to UISALUD users, to date, 96% of the people who started the immunization process already have the complete vaccination schedule against COVID-19.  Meanwhile, 65.4% of the people who have completed four months of the second dose or single dose, have had the booster.

According to the Unit’s most recent report, between January 11 and 16, 72 tests were taken, of which 40 (55.6%) were positive cases. To date, 30 infected users are in isolation, 2 are hospitalized and one is in intensive care. Dear UISALUD users! Remember that to start, complete the scheme or apply the COVID-19 booster, you can call 318 6274166 and 318 3400292 or write to uisalud.mivacuna@uis.edu.co.