The new Omicron variant may have a greater ability than other strains of the virus to escape immune protection from antibodies produced by previous COVID-19 infection, and potentially vaccines, according to a new study.
The new Omicron variant may have a greater ability than other strains of the virus to escape immune protection from antibodies produced by previous COVID-19 infection, and potentially vaccines.Emerging Microbes & InfectionThe Omicron variant has caused global panic prompting many countries, including Canada, to impose more stringent travel rules.
“We found the large number of mutations of the Omicron variant did cause significant changes of neutralization sensitivity against people who had already had COVID,” Wang said in a“However, the average ED50 against Omicron is still higher than the baseline, which indicated there is still some protection effect can be observed,” Wang continued.
“In addition, it needs to be re-evaluated whether the therapeutic monoclonal antibodies can still be effective against the Omicron variant,” the study reads. These were tested against test-tube or in-vitro samples of Omicron and other strains deemed “variants of concern” by the World Health Organization, including Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta.Wang said the study “verifies the enhanced immune escape” of the Omicron variant, “which sounds the alarm to the world and has important implications for the public health planning and the development of matching strategies.
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Israeli study finds Pfizer COVID-19 booster protects against OmicronIsraeli researchers say they found that a three-shot course of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine provided significant protection against the new Omicron variant.
Read more »
Ontario to offer COVID-19 boosters to adults 18 and older in JanuaryMove comes as province calls off plan to lift vaccine certificates Jan. 17 as Omicron variant spreads
Read more »
B.C. reports 437 new cases of COVID-19 and three new deathsB.C. health officials identify 10 cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19
Read more »
What we know about Omicron two weeks after it became a variant of concernTwo weeks after the World Health Organization designated Omicron a variant of concern, we know a lot more about its potential threat, with initial data suggesting it seems to be associated with less severe illness and fewer ICU admissions.
Read more »
Ontario reports 1,607 new COVID-19 cases, including 48 with Omicron variantOntario ICUs are caring for 146 people with COVID-19
Read more »
South African doctors see signs Omicron is milder than DeltaAs the Omicron variant sweeps through South Africa, doctors and medical experts suspect that the version really is causing milder COVID-19 than Delta, even if it seems to be spreading faster.
Read more »