New Campaign With Omicron-Adapted COVID Vaccines Launched

A new inoculation campaign with Omicron-adapted bivalent COVID-19 vaccines next week has been launched by France.

Speaking to the local media on Tuesday, the Minister said the resurgence has been reported across the country over the past three weeks, reports Xinhua news agency.

Omicron Variant of COVID-19
Omicron variant is a mutated strain of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) with faster transmissibility and enhanced virulence compared to the original COVID-19 virus.

‘The three Omicron-adapted vaccines approved by the HAS include those of Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech targetting the Omicron variant BA.1, and that of Pfizer/BioNTech adapted for the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants.’

Braun said a new booster dose will protect the at-risk groups from developing severe symptoms, including the vulnerable, those aged over 60 and health workers.

He said the general public are welcome to be vaccinated, too, if they wish.

Omicron-adapted Vaccines

The Omicron-adapted vaccines, approved by the French National Authority (HAS) on September 20, will be available at pharmacies and inoculation centers starting from October 3, he said.

Though wearing a mask is no more mandatory in France, Braun called on the citizens to be more sensible by putting it at crowded places.

Omicron's new 'BA.2.75.2' variant growing quickly in India
In South Africa a new sub-variant of COVID-19 Omicron called BA.2.75 has been detected. With South Africa having lifted all major COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

The French Public Health Agency has warned that "the circulation of SARS-CoV-2 has accelerated throughout the metropolitan territory with virological indicators rising sharply".

Since the outbreak of the pandemic in early 2020, France, one of the worst-hit countries, has reported a total of 35,238,174 COVID-19 cases and 155,000 deaths.

Next COVID Threat: BA.5 Omicron Subvariant is Now Dominant in the US
Watch out: BA.5 Omicron subvariant, now the dominant coronavirus strain in the US, made up almost 80 per cent of new COVID-19 infections in the country.

Source-IANS

Omicron BA.2.75: Fresh Insights
BA.2.75 Omicron strain is not more resistant to antibodies than the currently dominating BA.5, which is positive news.