According to a report, 54 mutations in Omicron’s genome – and specifically a cluster of 34 in a key viral protein called spike – severely weaken the ability of coronavirus vaccines to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection.
However, it appears that protection against severe infection remains high, and may have contributed to the perceived mild illness caused by Omicron.
Wendy Berger, immunologist at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, said this bodes well for the resilience of vaccine-mediated immunity against future forms of concern.
Although Omicron’s spike mutations weaken antibody protection, scientists have detected only a slight decline in the ability of immune cells, called T cells, to recognize the virus.
The report further states that these cells are thought to be particularly important in limiting the scope of viral infection, killing infected cells, and limiting the spread of the virus.
“I really breathed a sigh of relief after Omicron. I’m optimistic that the T-cell response will be flexible enough even if a newer version comes out,” says Berger.
However, Berger notes that as antibodies become less relevant to SARS-CoV-2 immunity, T cells become more important, and a viral variant that can evade T-cell surveillance may be a significant survival factor. would benefit.
“The T-cell response is doing a lot of the heavy lifting,” she said. “So one thing we can start to see is T-cell escape,” she said.
In general, this accumulation of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 variants should boost immunity, said Santiago vila Ríos, an infectious-disease specialist at Mexico’s National Institute of Respiratory Diseases in Mexico City.
Rios and his team report that many exposures to SARS-CoV-2, either through vaccination or infection, result in increased antibody responses, as well as responses by immune cells called B cells.
“Thus, as more individuals are exposed to the virus through different mechanisms, the emergence of new forms of anxiety may reduce the disease burden,” he said.
Meanwhile, the cumulative COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in India crossed 178.26 crore on Thursday.
Till 7 pm, more than 21 lakh (21,99,122) doses of vaccine have been given.
So far, more than 2.03 crore (2,03,60,743) precautionary doses have been given to health workers, frontline workers and people aged 60 years and above, the ministry said.
It added that the daily vaccination numbers are expected to increase with the compilation of the final report for the day by late night.
The nationwide immunization drive was launched on 16 January with the first phase vaccinating health workers (HCWs). The vaccination of Frontline Workers (FLWs) began on February 2.
The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination began from March 1 for people above 60 years of age and 45 years and above with specified co-morbid conditions.
The country began vaccination for all people over the age of 45 from 1 April. The government then decided to expand its vaccination campaign by allowing everyone over the age of 18 to be vaccinated from May 1.
The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination for adolescents aged 15-18 years has begun on January 3.
India began giving precautionary doses to HCWs, FLWs to HCWs, FLWs, personnel deployed for election duty and those aged 60 years and above with comorbidities from January 10, in the coronavirus infection fueled by Omicron edition in the country Spike is visible. ,
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