ANI
01 Dec 2021, 00:25 GMT+10
Washington [US], November 30 (ANI): Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said that existing COVID-19 vaccines are likely to be less effective against the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
"There is no world, I think, where [the effectiveness] is the same level . . . we had with [the] Delta [variant]. I think it's going to be a material drop. I just don't know how much because we need to wait for the data. But all the scientists I've talked to ... are like, 'This is not going to be good," Chief Executive Officer of Moderna, Stephane Bancel said in an interview with the Financial Times on Tuesday as reported by CNN.
Moderna's Bancel said in a statement last week that the mutations in the Omicron variant were "concerning," adding that the company has been "moving as fast as possible to execute our strategy to address this variant," reported CNN.
With World Health Organisation (WHO) stating that overall global risk related to the new COVID variant Omicron is assessed as very high and may change the pandemic course, health experts in India reiterated not to loosen up the guards as the situation still lies uncertain.Health experts also suggested that given India's population, extreme surveillance and strictest border control with an immediate effect should be imposed.
Dr Neetu Jain, senior consultant Pulmonology, PSRI Hospital while speaking to ANI told, "if Omicron reaches India, the way there is non-compliance to COVID-19 behaviour, it will take no time for the new variant to spread. It is said that Omicron may possibly be 500 times more infectious than Delta, which in itself was 60 times more infectious than Alpha. So the chance of infection is way too high."It has been already stated that a total of 50 plus mutations are already existing, and the variant is building on existing mutations, 32 on spike protein. With questions arising related to vaccine's efficacy against Omicron (B.1.1.529), the expert is of the view that "vaccine efficiency may drop significantly given the 32 spike protein mutations. We may need to reconsider the vaccine policy."Dr Vivek Anand Padegal, Director, Pulmonology, Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru stated, "previous variants after Delta-like MU have not been as bad as feared and time will tell if this is a variant to be concerned about. It's concerning that there has been somewhat of a surge in South Africa in the last 10 days."The Omicron variant (B.1.1.529), a new variant of the COVID-19, was first reported in Botswana on November 11, 2021, and appeared on November 14 in South Africa. It has been declared a variant of concern by the World Health Organization. (ANI)Get a daily dose of Sierra Leone Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Sierra Leone Times.
More InformationNEW YORK, New York - U.,S. stocks closed lower Tuesday as President Donald Trump hinted the United States may join Israel in its attacks...
MENLO PARK, California: Meta Platforms has made a bold move to accelerate its artificial intelligence ambitions—by investing US$14.3...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: This week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that facilitates Nippon Steel's potential investment...
MOUNTAIN VIEW, California: On June 12, Google announced that it had fixed a temporary global service disruption that impacted several...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stock markets closed in positive territory Monday despite the raging war in the Middle East which has killed...
NEW DELHI, India: Amid mounting U.S.-China trade tensions, Apple has sharply increased iPhone shipments from India to the United States,...
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa: A key global plan to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 is now in deeper jeopardy after the United...
Kananaskis [Canada], June 18 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a flurry of high-level bilateral meetings with leaders...
New Delhi [India] June 17 (ANI): Former England legendary seamer James Anderson is set to lead Lancashire in their next two County...
Los Angeles [US], June 17 (ANI): Glen Powell, the star of Twisters and Top Gun: Maverick, is all set to lead an upcoming firefighter...
Johannesburg [South Africa], June 17 (ANI): South Africa's superstar Kagiso Rabada hailed his side's ICC World Test Championship Final...
At least 90 people have died in South Africa's Eastern Cape province following torrential rains, according to authorities ...