Omicron is able to infect even persons vaccinated against Covid – Scientist reveals
Dr. Yaw Bediako, a scientist at the University of Ghana’s West African Center for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens, WACCBIP, has said that the novel Covid-19 variant, Omicron, is able to bypass the systems of vaccinated persons.
He, however, was quick to add that research shows that in areas where vaccination rates are high, the Omicron spread lower.
Dr. Bediako made the remarks during an interview with 3FM’s Sunrise, presented by Alfred Ocansey, about the prevalence of Omicron in Ghana.
“The spread of Omicron is high. Once we have seen it…it means it is spreading but how deadly it…we don’t know…there is still more we have to do”, adding that “most cases that have been reported are milled. Many of the cases are milled”
“Omicron is able to overpass the vaccine so that means the vaccines that we have are less efficient than Omicron but the vaccines are protecting people.
“Even if you have been vaccinated, Omicron can still affect you, but it is significantly lower in areas where vaccines are higher.
“Omicron can invade the vaccines and that means the longer the virus may take, the vaccines will lose its efficacy”, he stated.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the novel coronavirus variant Omicron is spreading at a very rate all over the world and 77 countries have reported confirmed cases of the extensively modified type. The organization is also worried that the number of countries with the new variant could be more just than the others have not detected yet.
WHO director Dr. Tedros expressed concern that not enough was being done to combat the mutation.
“Surely, we have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our peril. Even if Omicron does cause less severe disease, the sheer number of cases could once again overwhelm unprepared health systems”.
“The order matters. Giving boosters to groups at low risk of severe disease or death simply endangers the lives of those at high risk who are still waiting for their primary doses because of supply constraints,” Dr. Tedros stated.
World health officials, on the other hand, are concerned that a shortage of tens of millions of doses, similar to the one that occurred in the middle of this year when India halted vaccine exports, could occur again.
Source: Richard Mensah Adonu | Join our Telegram Group
