Is Omron spreading faster than other covid variants? WHO official answer

“The overall threat posed by Omron depends largely on three key questions: (1) how transmissible is the variant; (2) how well the vaccines and prior SARS-CoV-2 infection do with infection, transmission, and clinical disease. and saves from death; and (3) how virulent is the variant as compared to other variants,” Singh was quoted as saying by the news agency ANI,

“Based on the limited evidence at present, Omicron appears to be spreading rapidly, at a rate not seen with any other previous variant. Emerging data from South Africa suggest an increased risk of re-infection with Omicron , but more data are needed to draw stronger conclusions.”

The official said there is still limited data on the clinical severity associated with Omicron and more information is expected in the coming weeks.

Singh said, “Further information is needed to fully understand the clinical picture of people infected with Omicron and encourage WHO countries to collect and share hospitalized patient data through the WHO COVID-19 Clinical Data Platform.” encourages you to contribute.”

“We should not dismiss omicron lightly. Even though omicron causes less severe disease, the sheer number of cases can once again overwhelm health systems,” she said.

Vaccine efficacy against Omicron

Asked whether anti-Covid vaccines are effective against Omicron, Dr Singh said preliminary data suggests that “vaccines may have reduced effectiveness against Omicron”.

“Again, it will take a few more weeks before there is enough evidence to fully assess the performance of vaccines against Omicron. We must also not forget that a country cannot come out of this pandemic with a vaccine alone.”

Pandemic ‘far from over’

He emphasized that the emergence of variants is a reminder that the pandemic is not over.

Asked whether India could face the third wave of COVID-19 due to Omicron, he stressed the need to strengthen surveillance, public health, social measures and rapidly increase vaccination coverage.

“As before, whenever we’ve done these well, we’ve seen a drop in cases. We know these measures work. It’s up to each of us, and all of us together, to stop the transmission, which We can and we should,” she said.

booster dose required

Commenting on the effectiveness of booster doses against Omicron, the WHO official said that current data shows that vaccines receiving WHO’s emergency use list perform well against severe forms of the disease, including the last There is a slight or slight decrease in effectiveness after six months. primary dosage.

“Preliminary studies on the effect of Omicron on vaccine effectiveness, and whether additional doses may be needed, suggest that an additional dose may provide benefit, yet these limited laboratory and clinical studies draw definite conclusions.” It is too early. WHO will continue to review the evidence, and update its recommendations as appropriate,” she said.

“SAGE recommends that moderately and severely immunocompromised individuals be offered an additional dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as part of an expanded primary series. More data are needed on the performance of the primary series vaccine over time to recommend the use of a booster dose for the general population,” she said.

He further said that the booster policy has to be considered in the context of the goal of preventing serious illness and death and protecting the health system. He said the WHO recommendations on boosters would be updated as more evidence becomes available.

Vaccines for Children

Expressing his views on COVID-19 immunization for children in India, the WHO Regional Director said that countries need to vaccinate children and adolescents in their specific epidemiological and social context while developing their own COVID-19 vaccination policies and programmes. Individual and population benefits of

“Since children and adolescents tend to have milder illness than adults, unless they are in a high-risk group of severe COVID-19, they are less likely to be vaccinated than older people who are more prone to chronic health conditions and health conditions. with the workers.” he said.

“Vaccination to children and adolescents has benefits that go beyond direct health benefits. Vaccinations that reduce COVID-19 transmission in this age group can reduce transmission from children and adolescents to older adults,” she said.

With inputs from agencies.