Omikron is a new variant of the coronavirus identified by the World Health Organization as “worrying”. – It seems to be more infectious and elusive of the immune system’s response than previous mutations – says Prof. Agnieszka Szuster-Ciesielska from the Department of Virology and Immunology at the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin. The number of mutations made him known as a superwariant, she added.
- A new variant of the coronavirus – Omikron was detected on November 11 in southern Africa, it has already reached Europe
- We have oral reports of various scientists that it seems to be more contagious, up to 500 times – says Prof. Agnieszka Szuster-Ciesielska
- For now, however, the symptoms of the disease are relatively mild – adds the virologist
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage
Omikron variant more infectious
PAP: There was a slight panic in the scientific world, but not only there. Omicron has many more mutations than Delta, which has already been significantly changed. In the new variant, many mutations are concentrated in the zone that interacts with the human cell.
Prof. Agnieszka Szuster-Ciesielska: The number of mutations made the Omicron a super-variant. It has 50 mutations, 32 of which concern the S spike protein itself, and 10 involve changes at the site of direct recognition of a human cell receptor by the coronavirus spike. All this means that the O variant may be so different from the previous versions that it will be less recognized by cytotoxic cells and antibodies that arose after infections with earlier variants of coronaviruses, but also after vaccination.
The three key questions that need to be answered quickly are: is this variant more transmissive, more infectious, and is it able to bypass our line of defense after vaccination and infection with earlier variants. This new variant was first identified on November 11 in Botswana, then in Australia, Israel, today we have it on our doorstep – in Belgium, Germany, the Czech Republic and Italy. Is it already in Poland? It’s only a matter of time. On the other hand, all those who have been identified with Omikron have recently been to Africa and probably brought him from there.
WHO at an urgent meeting on Friday, immediately classified Omikron as a worrying option.
This is the fifth variant, after Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta, that deserves such a name. Now the whole scientific world will be watching him closely, studying him, because so far little is known about him. We have oral reports from various scientists that it appears to be more infectious (up to 500 times) and eluding immune system responses than previous mutations. But that requires research in larger groups. However, what is disturbing and confirming its high infectivity is the fact that in southern Africa, where it started, Omikron is already starting to replace the Delta variant. The first information from African doctors was also published yesterday – the symptoms of the disease are relatively mild. There is also no loss of smell and taste characteristic of earlier versions of the virus. This, however, still needs to be confirmed.
Where did this Omikron come from?
Well, there is a hypothesis that it could have arisen in a person infected with coronavirus, who, due to a weakened immune system, could not eliminate it. This gave the virus ample time to change to avoid the host’s defensive responses. As you know, there are many people in South Africa who are infected with HIV, which weakens immunity. Perhaps it was in such a person that the virus could have survived longer. Anyway, a similar hypothesis has been confirmed in the past with the Beta variant that arose in the UK in a woman who had been carrying the coronavirus for many months. This is what gave the virus time to change.
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How soon could this variant dominate Europe? Its expansion seems to be very fast.
This is true, but please also note that the international community has reacted swiftly. Flights to and from Africa have already been suspended, and tourism has been drastically reduced. Israel was the first country in the world to completely close its borders to foreigners. And Great Britain closed the border to travelers from 10 African countries. British citizens returning from there must be quarantined for 10 days in a hotel designated by the authorities. Of course, it is not known whether all people infected with Omicron can be caught. We remember that this pandemic started in the Chinese city of Wuhan, also very far from us, but nevertheless this original variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus spread rapidly.
For me, it is significant that some of the countries reacted quite dramatically, such as Portugal, which threw away European covid passports – now, when someone wants to get to this country, be it by air, land or sea, it will be had to present an up-to-date PCR test.
As we have seen in the past with the onset of the pandemic, countries have dealt with it in different ways, sometimes adopting extremely different strategies. In the first wave of the pandemic, the example of Sweden was widely discussed, which focused on the so-called herd immunity resulting from the spread of COVID-19 by as many people as possible. How it ended, we know, there were a huge number of deaths in this country, especially among the elderly. Recently, under the pressure of the fourth wave of the virus, some countries – such as Austria or the Czech Republic – have tightened restrictions as much as possible, up to full lockdowns. We will find out who was right in some time, although I am in favor of restrictions, e.g. enforcement of the covid passport in Poland. I know that they are economically expensive, but with money on one scale and human lives on the other, I would choose the latter.
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So what, let’s get vaccinated? Let’s vaccinate our children? According to American studies, the incidence of COVID-19 among the youngest has increased by 32% in the last two weeks. And how is it in Poland? And how many deaths have there been in the age group up to 16?
When it comes to Poland, I have not been able to find official reports on both cases and deaths among the youngest. The American Academy of Pediatrics publishes reports on this subject every two weeks, it is difficult for us to obtain such systematized data. According to the media reports, there are more and more such infections and they concern younger and younger children. The majority of patients in pediatric-covid wards are 5-6 years old, many of them require oxygen support. As for the deaths, I am also unable to give a specific number, but it seems that there have not been many of them so far. Which doesn’t mean there won’t be more. Therefore, I appeal to parents to take care of their offspring and vaccinate them.
Probably sometime in mid-December it will be possible to vaccinate children in the 5-11 age group in Poland. Meanwhile, Pfizer said it is completing clinical trials on a vaccine for even younger kids – from the age of six months on. And, apparently, this research turns out satisfactorily.
I think this research will end this year. In fact, the preliminary results show that vaccinations for the youngest children are not only safe, but also give a very good response from the immune system. But for now, this is information provided in the media by this concern, so I am waiting for official data confirmed by competent institutions. However, when it comes to vaccinating the 5-11-year-old group, I am absolutely right.
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Observing how quickly covid beds in pediatric wards fill up, bearing in mind that children – contrary to previous pandemic waves – are sowing the virus on others, including older ones, I believe they should be vaccinated. To protect them, as well as their parents, grandparents, carers in nurseries and kindergartens, teachers in schools, and thus to protect the health care system from collapse.
But as you know, the vaccinated also infect, and can transmit the virus to others.
This is true, but we cannot approach it zero-one, because vaccinated people eliminate the virus from their respiratory tract very quickly and after about two or three days they are no longer dangerous to others. There were three large studies conducted on this subject – two in the UK and one in Spain. On their basis, it was shown that, however, vaccines reduce the transmission of the Delta variant, e.g. in households within the range of 27-63%.
This is a big discrepancy – between 27 and 63 percent.
True, however, the results depend on the group of respondents, country, climate and many other conditions. However, what seems important to me is the fact that the research was conducted in the so-called home conditions, i.e. on people who were close to each other. So even the extreme 27 percent. that’s a very good result.
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Some universities have introduced the obligation to show a covid passport for both their employees and students.
So far, three universities have introduced such a requirement, which in my opinion is fundamental, especially when it concerns medical universities. As for the row… Well, I’m not a lawyer, so I won’t be discussing on a legal level. Let me note, however, that for a long time at medical universities there is a requirement that no one has questioned so far, that students who come into contact with patients should be vaccinated against hepatitis B (hepatitis B). Recently, it could be concluded that the Ombudsman has a slightly different opinion on this subject, but I will stick to my opinion.
Universities in Poland are so independent that it is up to their rectors what requirements they will enforce on their employees and students.
I also hold this position. My only regret is that it hasn’t been done sooner, in more colleges, which might have stopped the current tide a bit.
Some social media celebrities, including doctors, call for no vaccination.
There were a few cases when the medical self-government took away the right to practice a profession for a specified period of time from people who expressed such views – contrary to scientific knowledge. However, in my opinion, an even greater threat are people who, not being doctors or scientists, such as some lawyers, by misinterpreting scientific works, proclaim their harmful views online. I will not mention names or associations so as not to promote them.
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And yet you are polemic with them, for example at TT.
I am aware that a discussion with this type of person is a failure – I am not able to convince them with any scientific arguments. Moreover, some people still earn money from their anti-scientific statements and popularity in the media. What drives me to act, to share my scientific knowledge on social media, is the hope that readers of these posts will take something for themselves, understand something. And that often happens. It will keep them and all of us safer.
What has upset you the most lately?
Information that an investigation is underway against a doctor and a nurse, the cases concern Katowice and Warsaw, who were caught trying to buy SARS-CoV-2 vaccination certificates for themselves. This is something incredible.
Interviewer: Mira Suchodolska.
Do you want to test your COVID-19 immunity after vaccination? Have you been infected and want to check your antibody levels? See the COVID-19 immunity test package, which you will perform at Diagnostics network points.
Also read:
- We are following Sweden’s path without restrictions and lockdown. Virologist: The Swedes admitted that this strategy was a mistake
- Vaccinated or healed who has better resistance to COVID-19?
- The COVID-19 vaccine in a patch – will give protection for years. When can it appear?
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