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We are currently observing an increase in the number of coronavirus infections not only in the world, but also in Poland. Why, despite widespread vaccination, do we have to face another wave? According to Dr. Maciej Tarkowski, the abolition of the restrictions is to blame, but also the clear differentiation of the BA.5 sub-variant. The expert also explains why even the vaccinated have symptoms when they become infected with the coronavirus.
- The next wave of infections that is sweeping across Europe is mainly related to BA.5, a highly infectious sub-variant of the Omikron
- Contrary to the previous waves, this one reached us in the summer, at a time when we are more willing to move and forget about the rules limiting the risk
- BA.5 also attacks people who are vaccinated – they too have to deal with symptoms of infection
- More current information can be found on the Onet homepage.
Why are infections rising? The expert points to two reasons
Dr Tarkowski is working on a team of researchers who, at the beginning of the 2020 pandemic, isolated the strain of the virus that infected people in Lombardy in northern Italy. It was then a great achievement to help us learn about the new pathogen.
A Polish scientist working in Milan believes that the current daily number of infections in Italy, recently ranging from several dozen to over 100 thousand, is the result of two causes overlapping.
«The first reason is that there are almost no restrictions. We no longer wear masks, at least a large part of people, and various mass events have started »- noted the medical biologist. “And on top of this there is a sub-variant of Omicron BA.5, which is different from the previous ones,” he noted. He also pointed out that a positive aspect is that the symptoms of infection in the vast majority of cases resemble those accompanying flu.
Hardly anyone has a chance of not having symptoms of an infection. Even vaccinated
The scientist also assessed the published results of studies on the effectiveness of vaccines in the case of Omikron infection. He noted that in the first month after vaccination, there was a greater risk of getting seriously ill with COVID-19 than was the case with earlier variants of the virus. This, he emphasized, is the difference between them.
At the same time, he pointed out that the more time passes after the vaccination, the greater the risk that Omikron will cause symptoms; it is higher than in the previous variants.
“Generally, six months after vaccination, hardly anyone has a chance of not having symptoms as a result of Omikron infection” – added Dr. Maciej Tarkowski. “Virtually most people who were vaccinated more than six months ago – and there are many of them – will have symptoms when infected with this variant.”
“Now there is a sub-variant BA.4 and BA.5, and they are antigenically so different from the original Omicron that our immune response will, in a sense, be completely new,” he explained. “The virus is so antigenically different from these previous variants that in the event of a mutation, it will have time to infect the body, induce symptoms, before the partially existing immunity reacts,” he said.
«While previously it was talked about lowering the incidence of infection in summer due to the weather, here we have a denial of it all, because the virus has it whatever it wants. This is probably also related to the fact that we no longer wear masks in closed rooms, and we do not wear masks in shops, the events have started with full force »- noted a biologist from Milan.
When asked if he was concerned that the situation would worsen in the fall, he replied: “We will have a continuation of the problems.”
«I don’t think the situation will change much until autumn. In my opinion, it will not be a new stage, but a continuation, although there will certainly be more cases than now »assessed Maciej Tarkowski.
From Rome Sylwia Wysocka (PAP)
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