WHERE: ‘There is no reason’ to doubt that vaccines protect those infected with Omicron

“There is” no reason to doubt that existing vaccines protect “patients infected with the Omicron variant from severe forms of covid-19, said Michael Ryan, head of the World Health Organization’s emergency department.

“We have very effective vaccines that have been shown to be effective against all variants so far in terms of the severity of the disease and the need for treatment,” Dr Ryan told AFP.

“There is no reason to think that the same thing will not happen” with Omicron, he added, explaining that we are still at the beginning of studies for this variant, which was identified on November 24 and has been recorded so far in about 40 countries.

“The general behavior we have seen so far does not show any increase in severity. In fact, in some parts of southern Africa milder symptoms have been reported,” the doctor added, echoing the statements of American epidemiologist Anthony Fauci.

“We are at the beginning and we have to be careful how we analyze this data,” Ryan warned, however, repeatedly emphasizing that scientists have just begun to study the new mutant strain.

The appearance of Omicron caused some panic, especially in Europe, which is facing a fifth wave of covid-19 due to the Delta strain.

The best protection

The Irish epidemiologist estimated that the first information from the south of Africa “shows that the vaccine seems to maintain the protection it offers”.

However, he acknowledged that the vaccines may be less effective against Omicron because of the many mutations he has in his spike protein.

However, it is “very unlikely” that this variant strain will completely escape vaccine protection.

“Preliminary data available from southern Africa do not indicate a catastrophic loss of efficiency,” he said.

“The best weapon we have at the moment is the vaccine,” he said.

“When a new executive appears, he tends to be more contagious because he competes with previous executives,” Ryan explained.

Omicron may also dominate the Delta, which is responsible for most covid-19 infections since late 2020 when it first appeared in India.

The rules are the same

But it is possible that the Omicron is spreading so fast in southern Africa because it is taking advantage of the fact that the Delta is not very widespread there, Ryan said.

Also the first data show that the new strain can more easily infect those vaccinated or those who have been infected with covid-19 in the past.

“There is evidence that re-infections are more common with Omicrons than previous waves or previous strains,” he said, adding that vaccines have been developed to protect against severe forms of the disease and not necessarily. of the mildest.

“What matters is not whether someone can be re-infected with Omicron, but whether the new infections are more or less serious,” he said.

And especially Ryan insisted on the need to continue to adhere to the basic protection measures: the use of masks, ventilation of spaces, social distancing.

“The virus has not changed its nature,” he warned, “the rules of the game remain the same.”

Source: AMPE