State Health Department Releases Epidemiology Report On COVID-19

The state health department says the Omicron variant is now the dominant strain of COVID-19 in Oklahoma, and we're learning more about the vaccines' effectiveness in preventing hospitalizations.

The CDC is reporting a lot more breakthrough cases in recent weeks nationwide, as health experts say the Omicron variant is more transmissible.

Despite these numbers, the state health department says the majority of people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Oklahoma are still unvaccinated.

And that vaccines are helping prevent severe disease and death.

The state's epidemiology report, released just on Wednesday, reports more than 92 percent of all people in the hospital for COVID across the state are not vaccinated.

And to boost antibodies - the Tulsa Health Department is encouraging booster doses if you are eligible.

Data released by Pfizer shows that their two-dose vaccine is just 33 percent effective against getting the Omicron variant, but a third dose increases that protection.

Moderna says their booster shots, which are only half a dose of the first two shots, increased neutralizing antibody levels against Omicron 37-fold.

"Getting that booster dose and getting those antibodies boosted raises that up to about 75 percent efficacy against infection,” said Ellen Niemitalo with the Tulsa Health Department. “So it's still very effective against serious illness but if we can prevent those infections, that helps reduce the spread and reduce what's happening within the house, the community and the schools."

The state health department says about 57 percent of all cases right now in Oklahoma are the Omicron variant.

And they expect that number to increase in the coming weeks.