GENEVA — The Omicron coronavirus variant, reported in more than 60 countries, poses a “very high” global risk, with some evidence that it evades vaccine protection but clinical data on its severity is limited, the World Health Organisation says.
Considerable uncertainties surround Omicron, first detected last month in southern Africa and Hong Kong, whose mutations may lead to higher transmissibility and more cases of Covid-19 disease, the WHO said in a technical brief issued on Sunday (Dec 12).
“The overall risk related to the new variant of concern Omicron remains very high for a number of reasons,” it said, reiterating its first assessment of Nov 29.
At least one patient has died in the United Kingdom after contracting the Omicron variant, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday.
The WHO said there were early signs that vaccinated and previously infected people would not build enough antibodies to ward off an infection from Omicron, resulting in high transmission rates and “severe consequences”.
It is unclear whether Omicron is inherently more contagious than the globally dominant Delta variant, the WHO said.
Corroborating the WHO’s assessment, University of Oxford researchers published a lab analysis on Monday that registered a substantial fall in neutralising antibodies against Omicron in people who had had two doses of Covid-19 vaccine.
While the antibody defences from courses of AstraZeneca vaccine and BioNTech/Pfizer have been undermined, there is hope that T-cells, the second pillar of an immune response, can prevent severe disease by attacking infected human cells.
Theshold of protection?
Why Some Shots Miss the Mark Against Omicron
Oxford scientists have found that a handful of people who received their COVID‑19 shots didn’t produce a measurable neutralising antibody response to the Omicron variant. One researcher, Matthew Snape, admitted that it’s still unclear just how much of this antibody guard really keeps the jab effective.
“We don’t know the exact line that tells us whether we’re safe,” Snape said. “And yet, the safest bet is to get that initial series and, if you’re already vaccinated, jump on the booster.”
What the Lab Results Tell Us
- No evidence yet that Omicron causes more severe disease.
- The findings match a separate study from the Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria.
- That Austrian research saw a big drop in Omicron‑reactive antibodies, with many samples showing zero response.
- Both teams plan to expand their work to people who have received three shots.
What the Big Pharma Counters With
Pfizer and BioNTech remain optimistic: two doses might still hold up against severe illness because the virus’s mutations are unlikely to dodge the T‑cell response. GOOD NEWS!
They also pointed out that a third booster brings antibody levels back up, matching the protection offered by a two‑shot course against the original strain that first appeared in China.
WHO Update
The World Health Organization has flagged a rise in reinfections in South Africa. Preliminary data suggests Omicron might be less vicious than Delta, but we still need more numbers to confirm this.
“Even if the severity curve dips, we’re still looking at more hospital admissions due to higher spread. These extra hospital loads can pressure systems and potentially lead to more fatalities,” the WHO warned.
More details should come in the next few weeks, as it takes time to see the full ripple effect of infections.
Bottom Line
Vaccinate first, boost later, and stay tuned as scientists nail down exactly how these shots hold up against the ever‑shifting Typhoon Omicron.
