Omicron Reduces Vaccine Effectiveness, Spreads Faster, States WHO
The Planet Health Organisation stated that given available data, chances are that Omicron will outpace the Delta variant of coronavirus where community transmission occurs.
The Omicron coronavirus variant is much more transmissible compared to Delta strain and reduces vaccine effectiveness but reduces severe signs and symptoms based on early data, the planet Health Organization stated Sunday.
The Delta variant, first identified in India captured, accounts for the majority of the world’s coronavirus infections.
But South Africa’s discovery of Omicron — that has a lot of mutations — recently motivated regions to impose travel bans on southern African countries and reintroduce domestic limitations to slow its spread.
The WHO stated Omicron had spread to 63 countries by December 9. Faster transmission was noted in Nigeria, where Delta is less prevalent, as well as in Britain, where Delta may be the dominant strain.
However it stressed that too little data meant it couldn’t say if Omicron’s rate of transmission was since it was less vulnerable to immune responses, greater transmissibility or a mix of both.
Early evidence suggests Omicron causes “a decrease in vaccine effectiveness against infection and transmission”, the WHO stated inside a technical brief.
“Because of the current available data, chances are that Omicron will outpace the Delta variant where community transmission occurs,” it added.
Omicron infections have to date caused “mild” illness or asymptomatic cases, however the WHO stated the information was inadequate to determine the variant’s clinical severity.
Nigeria reported Omicron towards the WHO on November 24. Vaccine manufacturers Pfizer/BioNTech a week ago stated three doses of the jabs remained as effective against Omicron.
Countries with plenty of vaccine supplies for example Britain and France have encouraged their populations to get another “booster” jab to battle Omicron.