‘Encouraging’ the first response to Omicron’s growth: Dr Fauci | Coronavirus Plague News
Evidence from this new species does not indicate a serious threat, says a US epidemic scientist.
Early warning signs of the Omicron COVID-19 ‘s risk factor are “slightly encouraging” but more are still needed, according to a major US epidemiologist. Dr. Anthony Fauci.
“Omicron has a chance to spread” in South Africa, where the divergence was first mentioned, Fauci said in a CNN interview on Sunday, noting that the country had low rates before seeing “almost a high rise, which is almost stable.” Omicron “.
“While we are about to make a definite statement on this, so far, it does not seem like a big deal,” he said. “So far, the signatures are a bit inspiring.”
Medical experts in recent days are stressing that South Africa’s population is affecting young people and that more serious cases are likely to come in the coming weeks.
Laboratory tests are underway to determine if Omicron – a highly mutant strain of the virus – is more contagious than other types, not immune to vaccines and infections or serious complications, the results of which are expected in a few weeks.
Omicron in 30 percent of US countries
Meanwhile, U.S. health officials say the change has spread to nearly a third of US states, but the Delta race still has high levels of COVID-19 cases across the country.
About 15 U.S. states have reported Omicron cases: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin, according to a Reuters article. organization.
Most of these cases were among people with adequate immunization with few symptoms, although some patients were not identified.
“I think there is a real risk that we will see a reduction in vaccines,” Stephen Hoge, president of Moderna vaccine manufacturers, told ABC News.
“What I don’t know is important,” added Hoge. “Will it be the kind of thing we saw with the Delta race, that is, the vaccine was still working, or would we see a 50% reduction in power, which means we have to re-introduce the vaccine.”
Moderna, like other pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, has already begun work on changing their vaccines if necessary.
Various Omicron cases have been confirmed so far in 40 countries.
Efforts to change vaccines
Manufacturers of the COVID-19 vaccine are looking to change their shotgun to match Omicron and US regulators have promised a speedy review, but it could take months.
Moderna Inc said it could seek US approval to get the vaccine updated soon, but company officials in a video interview on Sunday said it would take some time to improve.
U.S. government officials have also been working with vaccine manufacturers Pfizer Inc and Johnson & Johnson on the new models.
The United States last week imposed a travel ban on South Africa and seven other southern African countries to curb the spread of the virus.
Fauci said Sunday he expects the ban to be lifted “in a short time”.
