UK Omicron emergency confirmed

Omicron emergency

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59631570

No one should be in any doubt, there is a tidal wave of Omicron coming

It is now clear that two doses of vaccine are simply not enough to give the level of protection we all need.

But the good news is that our scientists are confident that with a third dose, a booster dose, we can all bring our level of protection back up

At this point our scientists cannot say that Omicron is less severe

a wave of Omicron through a population that was not boosted would risk a level of hospitalisation that could overwhelm our NHS and lead sadly to very many deaths

Aged 18 and over, in England, third jabs from this week

Three months since second dose

A third booster dose prevents around 75% of people getting any Covid symptoms from Omicron

Live data, hospital patients who have tested positive

https://www.nicd.ac.za/diseases-a-z-index/disease-index-covid-19/surveillance-reports/daily-hospital-surveillance-datcov-report/

Omicron cases have now been found in hospital

Nadhim Zahawi

Warned of the danger of tens of thousands of hospitalisations,

even if omicron were to prove half as severe as delta

SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern and variants under investigation in England

Technical briefing 31

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1040076/Technical_Briefing_31.pdf

Data cut off, 6 December

260 confirmed cases of Omicron VOC-21NOV-01 (B.1.1.529),

Identified through sequencing or genotyping in England.

Additional possible cases identified through S gene target failure

Higher risk of transmission from secondary attack rates

Risk of household transmission from an Omicron index case compared to a Delta index case 3.2

Risk of a close contact becoming a secondary case, adjusted odds ratio 2.09

Household secondary attack

Omicron, 21.6%

Delta, 10.7%

Three to eight-fold increased risk of reinfection with the Omicron variant.

A 20 to 40-fold reduction in neutralising activity by Pfizer 2-dose vaccinee sera for Omicron

At least 10 fold loss of activity when compared to Delta

Greater reduction in activity was seen for AZ 2- dose sera

An mRNA booster dose resulted in an increase in neutralising activity irrespective of primary vaccination type

Data are urgently required on the durability of neutralising activity