Omicron’s BA.5 sub-variant is still dominant in Europe
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) underlined on Tuesday that although cases of the new coronavirus have decreased in Europe, the pandemic is not yet over and European countries must prepare for the possibility of a new autumn wave.
“The data show that in recent weeks there has been a reduction in the total number of (SARS-CoV-2) cases and deaths due to COVID-19 in Europe,” said Marco Cavalleri, head of the EMA’s directorate responsible for health threats and vaccination strategy, during a press conference.
“But as autumn approaches, we need to prepare for a new wave of infections,” he added.
According to Mr. Cavalleri, the same scenario unfolded in the two years of the pandemic, there was an autumn wave in both years and the trend is expected to be recorded this year as well. He also pointed out the need to be vigilant for new variants of the virus.
“Omicron’s BA.5 sub-variant is still the dominant one in Europe,” he noted, but “we have to be on the lookout for other variants. For example, BA.4.6 is spreading rapidly in Europe and has already been detected in Europe. Also, BA.2.75 is a sub-variant of concern.’
“What is clear to me and should have been made even clearer by Dr Cavalleri’s presentation is that we in Europe still consider the pandemic to be ongoing,” said Stephen Thirstrup, EMA’s chief medical officer.
The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended approval of modified vaccines for the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, in addition to the original form of .SARS-CoV-2.
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