Ômicron variant patients have less risk of hospitalization, study says

A study carried out by researchers in South Africa reveals that patients infected with the Ômicron variant of the coronavirus have less risk of hospitalization than those infected with the original strain of the virus. The work, on the other hand, points out that Pfizer’s vaccine is only 33% effective against this variant.

The survey was conducted by Discovery Health company in partnership with the South African Research Council. Scientists analyzed 211,000 positive test results for the coronavirus, with 41% of people vaccinated with the two doses of the immunizer from Pfizer. The company’s estimate is that 78 thousand cases involved the Ômicron variant between the 15th of November and the first week of December.

According to the researchers, the risk of hospitalization for those infected with the Ômicron variant is 29% lower than among patients infected with the original virus. On the other hand, among children, the probability of hospitalization is 20% higher.

Regarding the vaccine, the study points out that the two doses of the immunizing agent from Pfizer are 33% effective against infections by the Ômicron variant. However, if only the cases of severe complications caused by the disease are considered, the effectiveness rises to 70%.

“National data shows an exponential increase in new infections and test positivity rates during the first three weeks of this wave, indicating a highly transmissible variant with rapid spread of infection throughout the community,” comments physician Ryan Noach, CEO of Discovery Health .

The Company’s Director of Health Analysis, Shirley Collie, added that Ômicron poses a greater risk of reinfection than previous variants.

“Despite the fact that children continue to have a very low incidence of serious complications after Covid-19, the data indicate that children under the age of 18 have a 20% higher risk of hospitalization for complications of the disease when infected with Ômicron, ” added the researcher.

(Translated text. Read the original English version here)