this variant to really know with so much confidence. It is a certainty that it is more contagious. There are definitely some promising signs that is less dangerous -- more adept at creating bronchial issues but not as threatening to the lungs or triggering wild immune responses. This is how itbhad performed in the lab and although worse outcomes is a lagging event and still could really tick up, it hasn't really yet.

There are also layers of different things going on. Some of the big uptick in places like Michigan isnt all about Omicron -- it is about likely higher transmission and outbreaks for COVID in the winter. But the heavy damage (measured by hospitalizations and worse) remains highly skewed toward the unvaccinated and those at higher risk.

Sorry, don't have some good reference attached but different things are swirling right now and it really is still early with Omicron to make clear conclusions with data. The super highly contagious part is definitely a concern, but you are right that the better question is what is then happening to these people and why. Are most doing fine almost entirely related to the vaccine or is the variant itself also definitely less dangerous -- or both? Doesn't seem clear quite and anyone saying with certainty -- not sure how they can know...yet.