At the moment, five evolutions of the coronavirus have been known: alpha, beta, gamma, delta and omicron. The last one characterized by its high transmissibility.
The omicron variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 will surely not be the last that has to be classified as “worrisome” by the World Health Organization (WHO) due to factors such as your high transmissibility, experts from the Geneva-based body warned today.
In its latest report, the WHO technical team in charge of analyzing vaccines against COVID-19 predicts that “the evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is expected to continue, and it is unlikely omicron is the latest variant of concern”.
So far, five evolutions of the coronavirus have been categorized in this way, and baptized with the Greek letters alfa (first detected in the UK), beta (South Africa), gamma (Brazil), delta (India) and omicron (also in South African territory).
The report weighs the possibility that the composition of current COVID-19 vaccines will be modified to cope with the omicron variant.
Covaxin obtained authorization from WHO and there are already eight vaccines used internationally against COVID-19
In this sense, WHO experts suggest the need for scientists to work towards the goal of achieving another vaccine:
More sustainable and with a longer-term vision, that is effective against any future variant
The current vaccines, according to the studies carried out so far, seem to lose efficacy in the face of the omicron variant in preventing symptomatic COVID-19, although they continue to be shown valid to prevent serious forms of the disease, as indicated by the fact that the current wave, with record numbers of infections, is not accompanied by more deaths.
“The pandemic will end when the world chooses to end it,” declared the WHO Director-General.
The group of experts reiterates the call for greater access of populations to vaccines against COVID-19, not only in order to reduce severe cases of the disease but also to stop the possibility of new mutations appearing.
Although the document does not oppose booster shots, it does state that “a vaccination strategy that ends up relying on repeated doses of the parent vaccine is probably not sustainable or appropriate.” (I)
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