Do the currently available vaccines work against the new Coronavirus variant Omikron (B.1.1.529)? Lauterbach refers to a brand new study from Israel.
Munich – All over the world, Corona researchers are trying to track down the Omikron variant (B.1.1.529). There are indications that the new coronavirus variant is significantly more contagious than previous variants. Whether it is also more dangerous is still being investigated. Patience is required here, experts admonish and warn against jumping to conclusions.
Do mRNA vaccines work against Omikron?
Do the current mRNA vaccines also work against Omikron? A question that probably preoccupies many people, including Karl Lauterbach (58). Vaccine manufacturers such as Moderna and Biontech are already investigating in ongoing laboratory tests whether their vaccines need to be adapted and whether the currently available corona vaccines are effective. Lauterbach is better known for its gloomy forecasts. Since the beginning of the corona pandemic, he has made a name for himself as a “reminder”. His attitude polarizes, but the health expert is often correct with his predictions.
Lauterbach: Biontech 90 percent effectiveness at Omikron
Now Lauterbach is tweeting a rather positive message. “In Israel there are indications that Biontech also has 90% effectiveness against Omicron”, the health expert announces and shares a link of the The Jerusalem Post (TJP). “So far, the data has not been published,” Lauterbach continues. However, he tries to find out more from ISR colleagues. Israeli Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz speaks in the TJP-Article of the first signs that Biontech also protects against Covid-19 at Omikron. There are initial indications that people with a full vaccination in the past six months or with a booster are also protected against the Omikron variant.
Omicron worry – researchers still know little
The SPD health expert reacted with alarm to the first reports about a new Corona variant from South Africa. With a view to the Corona crisis in Germany, he called for consistent travel restrictions via Twitter and a rigorous stop of air traffic from the countries concerned. Then Lauterbach rowed back a little, spoke of an “early Christmas present”. The reason: Dr. Angelique Coetzee, chairwoman of the South African Medical Association, observed unusual symptoms in her Omikron patients. The doctor spoke of a mild course.
Omikron variant: Biontech more optimistic than Moderna
Biontech boss Ugur Sahin expects that the available Covid-19 vaccine can also protect against serious disease courses with the new Omikron variant. Omikron is not the first Corona variant that has emerged, said Sahin on Tuesday evening in Mainz before a prize was awarded to him and his wife.
Nobody should lose their nerve over Omicron
Nobody should lose their nerve because of Omikron, it is now a matter of giving everyone booster vaccinations as quickly as possible, Sahin said in a conversation with him Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Omikron could lead to more infections, but the vaccine launched by Biontech and Pfizer had good protection against serious diseases in other variants as well. After the vaccination, the body produces antibodies and T cells, which serve the immune defense, explains Sahin im WSJ. If the variant is better at outsmarting the antibodies, the T cells still remain as protection against severe disease. It is hardly conceivable that one variant could bypass both protective mechanisms.
Moderna boss Stephane Bancel had previously expressed open doubts about the effectiveness of the available mRNA vaccines. (ml)
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