There’s a new COVID variant in town: Omicron. 

       COVID-19 arrived in the United States in January of 2020, and since then, the nation has been quarantined for over a year, wearing masks, and social distancing. As soon as life felt even a little close to going back to normal, the new variant Omicron touched down the United States.

According to the CDC First Confirmed Case of Omicron Variant Detected in the United States it says, “ the California and San Francisco Departments of Public Health have confirmed that a recent case of COVID-19 among an individual in California was caused by the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529). The individual was a traveler who returned from South Africa on November 22, 2021.” 

Earlier this month in Maryland, there were three confirmed cases. In a press release, Governor Larry Hogan announced that “state health officials have confirmed the first three cases of the COVID-19 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) in Maryland residents “. All three of these cases have been confirmed in the Baltimore Metropolitan Region. 

What are the symptoms of Omicron? Early studies report that the strain may cause more mild symptoms than other variants like Delta. According to an SF Gate article, those who have tested positive for Omicron have had symptoms like fatigue, headache and body aches, which are symptoms that are common with the flu.

Here’s the dilemma: kids are having different symptoms regarding Omicron. Kids are experiencing fatigue, headaches, loss of appetite, and even rashes. 

And all of this could affect vaccines, as well.

According to the Washington Post,  “the new omicron variant could increase the likelihood that people will need a fourth coronavirus vaccine dose earlier than expected, executives at pharmaceutical giant Pfizer said Wednesday.“

Experts and scientists suspect this won’t be the last of the COVID-19 vaccines.