Researchers and scientists have been keeping a close watch on any further Coronavirus mutation giving rise to a new variant without taking a break. All possible tools are being used, varying from rapid antigen testing and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic tests to even testing of sewage water for early diagnosis of positive possible variant cases.
As warily expected, a new highly-transmissible variant of the circulating Omicron variant, now named BA.2, has been detected not only in the United States but also overseas. It is presently seen mostly in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.
The people at risk are mostly the still unimmunized population. In the United States at present there are 28 million seniors who are largely at risk of getting seriously ill from Covid-19, because they are either still unimmunized or partially immunized, or their last immunization shot was more than 5 months ago.
Ongoing clinical trials indicate that the immunity generated with vaccines wanes over time. Protection from vaccines against the Omicron variant is only 10% effective after six months of a second dose of immunization. Although booster shots of vaccine do boost the immune system, scientists are now researching and investigating the long term benefits of vaccine protection against the Omicron variant of Coronavirus.
The conclusion drawn so far is that booster shots are 40-50% effective in preventing an Omicron infection among adults.
The new Omicron variant BA.2 can easily cause a severe Covid-19 infection in the vulnerable, unimmunized population, especially the elderly, children under 5 years of age, and the very young toddlers and infants that are still waiting for their vaccination shots.
Everyone needs to still exercise caution to prevent yet another wave of Covid-19, and not allow it to spring back again into a pandemic stage from a much-awaited endemic stage.