As the Omicron variant of Covid-19 has driven cases to spike to record levels, many are getting their boosters to help fight the ultra-contagious variant. 

Beginning on Feb. 7, students must have a booster to be considered up to date. School nurse Mrs. Marianne Vogt ‘83 said, “The (Centers for Disease Control) is calling fully vaccinated as having just two doses, but (being) up to date includes the boosters if you’re eligible.”

With many intricate and perhaps sometimes hard-to-understand Covid-19 protocols, the nurse hoped to quell any confusion. Regarding quarantine requirements, Vogt said, “We don’t have to quarantine (in a traditional classroom setting) whether you’re boostered, vaccinated or not. If you are outside the traditional classroom, like gym class or sports, and you have a close contact with someone who’s positive, then, unless you’re boosted, you would be considered needing to quarantine.” 

Vogt said that the vaccine kept Covid-19 rates at school especially low before Omicron, but there were some breakthrough cases following the variant’s emergence. Vogt noted that vaccinated students who were infected experienced only mild cases. 

She also noted that the school is, as she defined it, “in the higher range of being vaccinated.”

Additionally, if another variant or development with the pandemic warranted another booster, Vogt said, “We will always stick with what it takes to be up to date whether that requires a second or third booster.” She also reminded that vaccines are not a requirement for any student, but she urged everyone to get one.

The Omicron surge on the East Coast is sharply declining, and Vogt spoke on the use of masks at school. She hopes that the school will return to mask-optional sometime in the future once community spread has decreased to a safe level. Vogt explained that the school will also require masks as long as Gov. Eric Holcomb’s executive order of masking in school in order to not quarantine stays in place. She said that with the recent plateau in cases at Cathedral she is “cautiously optimistic” that this surge will be over soon.

“The science has shown that the vaccines really are effective, and even though we have breakthrough cases, they’re much more mild than if you aren’t vaccinated,” Vogt said.