Ómicron already has a presence in about 60 countries. So far, 57 states have detected cases of the new variant of coronavirus. But the most important thing is that most of them are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. This is clear from the weekly epidemiological report of the World Health Organization (WHO), which highlights that all the cases reported in the European Union, 212 infections in 18 countries, were mild or without symptoms.
However, the WHO analysis warns of two extremes. On the one hand, on the high possibility of reinfection which appears to have the new version of the Sars-Cov-2. On the other, the probable increased hospitalizations, and even deaths, given the foreseeable increase in infections. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control hopes that omicron become the dominant variant (more than 50% of cases) in the EU between January and March 2022.
WHO stresses the sharp increase in cases in countries of on from África. Not only in South Africa, where the new variant was detected for the first time and cases have doubled in a week (111% more), but in others such as Eswatini (1,990%), Zimbabwe (1,361%), Mozambique (1,207%) , Namibia (681%) and Lesotho (219%).
Something absolutely to be expected given the very low percentage of immunization against covid in the region. The virus has no barrier to contain it. It should be remembered that the vaccine does not prevent the transmission of the virus but it does reduce the probability of infection, and -in the case of being consumed- it spreads less to other people.
With Christmas just around the corner and in sight of his performance throughout the pandemic, it was to be expected that the WHO sinned from scaremongering with the arrival of omicron. But the truth is, some experts already point to the possibility that the new variant could be very positive in the evolution of the pandemic. Far from being more virulent, at the moment everything indicates that it is just the opposite. So if it gains ground over other, more aggressive versions of the virus, there couldn’t be better news.
Vaccines work
Even the WHO has confirmed that there is nothing to indicate that omicron is beyond the protection of vaccines. It remains to be seen if the efficiency is lower with the new variant, but “no one expects vaccines to have no effect before the new variant “, has underlined the director of the Department of Immunization of the World Health Organization, Kate O’Brien.
As he explained, experts from inside and outside the organization continue to analyze the effects of anti-covid drugs in the face of the version of the virus recently detected in South Africa, as well as how it responds to eventual treatments. And, he insisted, “not likely” that the vaccine loses all its effectiveness against omicron. For this reason, he stressed the importance of “everyone who has access to the doses gets vaccinated.” “It cannot be assumed that the vaccinated population protects the unvaccinated”, has sentenced.
Severe, unvaccinated cases
WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan has reported that the majority of severe cases currently treated in ICUs are unvaccinated people. A fact that you have regretted considering that there are developed countries with wide access to injections where they have rates of up to 30 or 40% of people who do not want to inoculate themselves with the vaccine.
“The message is clear, the vaccine protects against serious and fatal cases, and we want to vaccinate all vulnerable groups before the end of 2021“, he asserted. In his opinion, the priority should be “reach more communities”even if it means delaying the booster dose. Swaminathan has stated that studies show that after two doses, without a booster, subjects are generally protected against serious forms of COVID-19.
However, the Canadian immunologist has announced that this week the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts of the WHO on vaccines (SAGE) is meeting to study possible changes in the recommendations around booster doses, and that the decision in this regard will be communicated shortly.
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