The World Health Organization (WHO) says early evidence suggests the omicron variant may be spreading faster than the highly transmissible delta variant but brings with it less severe coronavirus disease though it’s too early to make firm conclusions.

Omicron Now in 57 Countries, Could Have Major Impact on Pandemic, Says WHO.

·       New coronavirus variant may pose a higher reinfection risk, but the latest research indicates it could be less severe than the Delta strain.

·       No deaths have yet been associated with the variant.

Boosters give up to 75 percent protection from mild Omicron: UK

Initial real-world data shows that booster COVID-19 vaccine protects people against mild disease from the Omicron variant.

Booster COVID-19 vaccine shots of AstraZeneca and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines shots give an estimated 70 percent to 75 percent protection against mild disease from the new Omicron variant, according to the United Kingdom’s Health Security Agency (UKHSA), citing initial findings from a real-world study.

The findings released on Friday are some of the earliest data on the protection against Omicron outside of lab studies, which have shown reduced neutralising activity against Omicron.

“However, the UK Health Security Agency said vaccines were still likely to offer good protection against severe Covid that needed hospital treatment.

The World Health Organization (WHO) earlier said vaccines should still work against severe Omicron cases.”

Pfizer says COVID booster ‘effective’ against Omicron variant

Lab tests show the three-shot course of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine neutralises Omicron, while two shots appear less effective.

Pfizer has said a booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine was able to neutralise the new Omicron variant in lab studies, even though the initial two doses appear significantly less effective.

“The companies also said an Omicron-specific version of their coronavirus vaccine, which is currently under development, would be available by March.”

“Although two doses of the vaccine may still offer protection against severe disease caused by the Omicron strain, it’s clear from these preliminary data that protection is improved with a third dose of vaccine,”

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