New Coronavirus Variant (Omicron; B.1.1529) a ‘Serious Concern’ in South Africa

Fourth COVID-19 shot needed, says German health minister

BERLIN, Dec 22 (Reuters) - German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said on Wednesday that a fourth vaccination will be necessary in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic due to the more contagious Omicron variant.

He said that Germany has ordered 80 million doses of a vaccine made by Biontech specifically targeting Omicron and should arrive in April or May.
 
South Africa’s huge omicron wave appears to be subsiding just as quickly as it grew

NAIROBI — South Africa’s huge wave of omicron cases appears to be subsiding just as quickly as it grew in the weeks after the country first announced to the world that a new coronavirus variant had been identified.


South Africa’s top infectious-disease scientist, who has been leading the country’s pandemic response, said Wednesday that the country had rapidly passed the peak of new omicron cases and, judging by preliminary evidence, he expected “every other country, or almost every other, to follow the same trajectory.”

“If previous variants caused waves shaped like Kilimanjaro, omicron’s is more like we were scaling the North Face of Everest,” Salim Abdool Karim said in an interview, referring to the near-vertical increase in infections that South Africa recorded in the first weeks of December.
 
study came out from the UK yesterday, 2 vaccine shots offer a protection betweem 0 to 20% against omicron, cases of double vaxxed previously infected by covid getting reinfected now are common.
Government claiming the vax is working coz people get less sick, so vax more. Duh...
Ime it appears Omicron is also easy on unvaxxed, which also appears in the numbers coming from South Africa.
 
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One important note -- that the anti-vaxxers fail to mention --- For the Unvaccinated the hospitalization rate RISES with Omicron.

COVID: Study shows hospitalisation rates fall by 40% in Omicron
The Imperial College research conducted in the UK reveals that COVID hospitalisation rates fell by 40% in the Omicron variant as compared to Delta.
https://www.gentside.co.uk/news/cov..._medium=syndication&utm_campaign=gentside

According to the first UK research conducted from The Imperial College suggests that the Omicron variant of coronavirus appears to be milder, with 15% less likely to stay in the hospital and at least a 40% lower risk of being admitted overnight.

The sample size of the study included 56,000 Omicron cases and 269,000 Delta cases. According to the findings, individuals who have never had the infection, versus those who were infected by Omicron, are 50-60% less likely to be hospitalized.

The risk of hospitalisation is equal for Omicron and Delta among those who have previously tested positive and have received at least two vaccination doses.

Professor Neil Ferguson from Imperial said:

Our analysis shows evidence of a moderate reduction in the risk of hospitalisation associated with the Omicron variant compared with the Delta variant. However, this appears to be offset by the reduced efficacy of vaccines against infection with the Omicron variant.

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However, people who are not jabbed have a greater probability of being admitted to the hospital. It comes as reports suggest that Omicron is milder than Delta for most people, albeit the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is yet to report its findings.

(More at above url)
 
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