WHO: vaccines unlikely to lose all efficacy to omicron

Although COVID vaccines might respond differently to the new omicron variant of the coronavirus, “they are not likely to lose all their effectiveness”Said today the director of the Department of Immunization of the World Health Organization (WHO), Kate O’Brien.

“No one expects vaccines to have no effect on the new variant“O’Brien stressed at a press conference, who pointed out that experts from within and outside the WHO continue to analyze the omicron strain and its possible effects on these drugs, as well as on treatments and diagnostic tests.

The Canadian expert stated that it is still important that “everyone who has access to the doses gets vaccinated ” So what “It cannot be assumed that the vaccinated population will protect the unvaccinated.”

The WHO chief scientist, Soumya Swaminathan, added in this regard that the majority of severe cases currently treated in ICUs are unvaccinated people, and regretted that even in developed countries with wide access to doses there are rates of up to 30%. 40 percent of unvaccinated people.

“The message is clear, the vaccine protects against serious and fatal cases, and we want to vaccinate all vulnerable groups before the end of 2021″ Said Swaminathan, before recalling that in Africa only one in four health workers is vaccinated against COVID-19.

Asked if the increase in COVID-19 cases in European countries could cause the WHO to rethink its call to delay booster doses (so that there are more vaccines in developing economies), the experts insisted that it remains essential. reach more communities.

“The priority continues to be that the vaccine reaches people not yet vaccinated”Said O’Brien, who stated that studies show that after two doses, without a booster, in general subjects continue to be protected against severe forms of COVID-19.

The Canadian immunologist noted, however, that this week the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on vaccines (SAGE) is meeting to study possible changes in the recommendations regarding booster doses, which in many countries are already being administered to people. seniors and risk groups.

Urgent measures to stop new variant

Governments must urgently reassess their national responses to COVID-19 and accelerate their vaccination programs in order to curb the spread of the omicron variant, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.

The worldwide spread of the variant suggests it could have a major impact on the pandemic, and the time to contain it is now, before more omicron patients are hospitalized, he told a news conference.

“We ask all countries to increase surveillance, testing and sequencing ”, he said, quoted by Reuters. “… Any complacency right now will cost lives.”