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How UPMC is preparing to treat COVID-19 Omicron variant if it arrives in Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH — As we continue to learn more about the Covid-19 Omicron variant, UPMC doctors are preparing in case the strain shows up in Pittsburgh.

“Even if Omicron is here, the tools in the toolkit are effective, and we should use them,” UPMC’s Medical Director, Dr. Graham Snyder told Channel 11.

Top UPMC doctors spoke to reporters today in a news conference.

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“We will be looking for the variant, and we will be looking how the variant interacts with us, and how our therapies work. We will know quickly, and change quickly, and share that information with you,” UPMC’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Don Yealy said.

One of the therapies UPMC offers is monoclonal antibody therapy.

Doctors typically administer the monoclonal antibodies through an IV, but recently, researchers have discovered that giving the antibodies via injection is also effective.

“Injections given under the skin can be given over less time, and are much easier to administer than IV infusions. We can more than double the number of patients that we treat this way to help ensure that we are treating as many patients as possible,” UPMC’s Infectious Disease pharmacist Dr. Erin McCreary told Channel 11.

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At this point, it’s too soon to tell if the Covid-19 vaccines will work against the Omicron variant.

“We do not know yet what impact these vaccines will have against the Omicron variant. I do not suspect that they will have no impact. They will be effective against Omicron, the question is will they be effective as they currently are as against Delta, or will we see a small or modest drop in effectiveness,” Dr. Snyder said.

In the meantime, doctors are actively testing for the variant.

“Our public health colleagues, and here at uPMC, do investigate a sample of the virus to know whether or not Omicron has emerged. I suspect with one case in the United States, there is some transmission in the U.S., or it will be here soon,” Dr. Snyder added.

Doctors say the Delta variant continues to make up 99% of all positive covid infections.