One additional case of the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) has been identified in New Jersey, the state Department of Health (NJDOH) announced today.

The case involves a Monmouth County man who attended Anime NYC at the Javits Center in November and became ill on November 24 but was not hospitalized. The individual experienced mild illness and has since recovered. He was fully vaccinated and had recently received a booster.

The NJDOH laboratory performed sequencing on a specimen collected from this individual to confirm it was the Omicron variant.

NJDOH has been working with other states, local health departments, clinical laboratories, hospitals, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to rapidly identify individuals who may have been infected with the Omicron variant.

Studies show after getting vaccinated against COVID-19, protection against the virus and the ability to prevent infection may decrease over time. Booster doses provide essential additional protection.  While more than 70 percent of residents have received their primary vaccine series, only 34 percent of residents eligible have received a booster.

The CDC recommends that all individuals 5 and older should get vaccinated. In addition, Pfizer booster doses are available for those ages 16 and older at least six months after completion of their primary Pfizer vaccination. Moderna recipients age 18+ are also eligible six months after completing their primary series, while Johnson & Johnson vaccine recipients age 18+ are eligible at least two months after a one-dose vaccine.