SAGE omicron leak
June 20, 2026
14 min
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299 of 364
June 20, 2026
SAGE omicron leak
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Dr John Campbell Episodes Around June 20, 2026
Episode 299 of 364 — walk the feed in the order it was published.
14:25This episodeSAGE omicron leak
Summary
World, now up to 226 confirmed cases in 20 countries
Moderna, a material drop in efficacy
Pfizer applied to FDA to boost 16 and 17 year olds
Pfizer's chief scientific officer, Mikael Dolsten
https://www.statnews.com/2021/11/30/pfizer-research-head-envisions-a-sprint-to-develop-omicron-vaccine-if-its-needed/
Enough experimental vaccine to begin a clinical trial within about two months
Very high commercial scale, by early March
cautiously optimistic, especially for the boosted
Pathogenicity
https://www.dw.com/en/covid-how-dangerous-is-the-omicron-variant/a-59977618
Preliminary data suggests that there are increasing rates of hospitalization in South Africa,
but this may be due to increasing overall numbers of people becoming infected, rather than a result of a specific infection with omicron
Professor Salim Abdool Karim, South Africa
The vaccine should hold well in terms of preventing hospitalizations
The European Union
44 confirmed cases in EU countries
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2021/12/01/eu-must-consider-mandatory-vaccination-says-ursula-von-der-leyen/
Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission’s President
Must consider mandatory vaccination
highly contagious omicron variant
150 million not vaccinated
This is an enormous health cost coming along
77 % of adults
66% of whole population
Greece and Austria already mandating
Netherlands
13 cases
US
Sewage surveillance
FDA
Narrow vote (14 to 10) approve Merck molnupiravir
Only high-risk patients
Not in pregnancy
UK
22 cases
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/11/30/new-covid-restrictions-last-march-next-year/
New self-isolation rules now law
10 days after contact with omicron
Even if fully vaccinated
Fine up to £10,000
Until March 24
? new pingdemic
Scientific advisory group for emergencies, leak
30 scientists, Patrick Vallance, Chris Whitty
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/covid-news-cases-deaths-booster-jab-coronavirus-omicron/
Stringent response measures may be needed for omicron
highly likely that omicron, after infection or vaccination to some extent there will be immune escape
Expects booster jabs to provide protection for now