Omicron Variant: Scientists Say Vaccines Are a Shield

Η Omicron variant and its rapid spread is forcing many countries to adopt new measures especially with the holiday season approaching. In Greece, health authorities are closely monitoring regions of the country for any spread of the “Omicron” variant, as the prevalence of this new strain is considered only a matter of time. Attica, Crete, and Western Greece have been placed under close health surveillance.

The samples have a history of travel to South Africa or contact with a confirmed case, and, in combination with this specific molecular profile, are classified as “suspected.” The samples are analyzed by the Institute of Biomedical Research of the Academy of Athens.

At the same time, the hard indicators of the pandemic remained in the red for yet another day, though the viral load has stabilized. However, Deputy Health Minister Mina Gaga warned that the death toll will rise in the coming days.
In the past 24 hours, the National Public Health Organization (EODY) reported 7,009 cases, 697 patients on ventilators, and 99 deaths.

The the need to increase vaccination rates The health minister emphasized the fight against the coronavirus Thanos Plevris, during the discussion at the EU Council of Health Ministers regarding the validity of vaccination certificates, noting that in recent months, vaccination coverage in Greece has increased by nearly 10 percentage points.

The EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety emphasized the need for «urgent and coordinated action,», Stella Kyriakidou, in remarks she made following the conclusion of the Health Ministers« Council. Ms. Kyriakidou also noted that the EU is closely monitoring developments regarding the »Omicron« variant. »We are equipped with the tools to respond quickly to the evolving situation, starting with vaccines,” emphasizing the need to vaccinate as many citizens as possible as soon as possible to avoid the serious consequences of the virus and the spread of new variants. The European Commissioner noted that it is encouraging that booster shot campaigns are in full swing in many member states.

Meanwhile, the head of the emergency response division at the World Health Organization, Dr. Michael Ryan believes that there is «no reason to doubt that the existing vaccines protect» patients infected with the Omicron variant from severe forms of COVID-19. «We have highly effective vaccines »which have proven their effectiveness against all variants to date, in terms of disease severity and the need for hospitalization, and there is no reason to think that the same will not be true,’ Dr. Ryan said in an interview with Agence France-Presse. He also noted that we are still in the early stages of studying this variant, which was identified on November 24 and has so far been recorded in about 40 countries.

On the other hand, the U.S. government's scientific advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci He states that it is «almost certain» that the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus does not cause more severe illness than the Delta variant, noting that the public should wait ’at least two weeks« longer to determine whether this variant proves to be less dangerous than the Delta variant.

For his part, Paul Offit, a member of the U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, explained that «we have a variant that could displace a more aggressive strain, such as Delta, and in the best-case scenario evolve into a virus that resembles common cold».