“We don’t know if the Omicron variant will replace Delta for Christmas, it can happen. But we’re not sure.” Marco Cavaleri, head of the anti-Covid vaccines task force of the European Medicines Agency (Ema), thus answering questions on the diffusion of the Omicron variant in Europe. The results obtained so far and the news disseminated suggest that so far the cases linked to contagions of the Omicron variant “appear to be mostly mild”, with less severe symptoms. Cavaleri points out, however, that more evidence needs to be gathered to determine if the severity spectrum of the disease caused by Omicron is different from that of all the variants circulated so far.
“And only time – he underlines – will tell”. “We are in the fourth wave, the only way to bend the curve is the combination of high vaccination rates and measures. We must vaccinate as many citizens as possible”, he reiterates.
In the meantime, in the context of the epidemic, infections and covid hospitalizations of children between the ages of 5 and 11 “have been increasing in recent months”, explains the EMA in a briefing.
“All children of this age group must be considered for vaccination, although priority must be given to those at risk of contracting severe forms of covid”, he specifies. “The data on the safety of vaccines for this age group are reassuring. To date, no safety concerns have emerged from the extensive vaccination campaign in the US.”
EMA could also conclude its evaluation of the Novavax vaccine by the end of the year. “Once authorized, this vaccine (made by an American company, ed) will provide a new option for vaccinating people in the EU and globally.”
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