Omicron in 57 nations

GENEVA, December 8

The Omicron variant has been reported in 57 nations, with cases rising in southern Africa, including Zimbabwe, and the number of patients needing hospitalisation is likely to rise as it spreads, the WHO said on Wednesday.

In its weekly epidemiological report, Tedros Adhanom-led WHO said more data was needed to assess the severity of the Omicron variant and whether its mutations may reduce protection from vaccine-derived immunity.

“Even if the severity is equal or potentially even lower than for Delta variant, it is expected that hospitalisations will increase if more people become infected and that there will be a time lag between an increase in the incidence of cases and an increase in the incidence of deaths,” it said. — Reuters

Pfizer booster works against new variant

New York: Pfizer has said that a booster dose of its vaccine may offer important protection against the new variant of concern, even though the initial two doses appear significantly less effective. The booster increased people’s levels of antibodies by 25-fold. AP