Omicron mutation: The first laboratory data were presented by Dr. Leek in SKAI

The first laboratory data for the Omicron mutation from South Africa, which were published a few hours ago, were presented to SKAI and the show “Today” by the doctor of Molecular Biology at the University of Toronto, Ioannis Prassas, confirming the predictions that it is a very contagious stem.
“The data prove what we feared, that the new strain is much more capable of escaping the attention of the antibodies we have already built either from vaccination or from natural disease. “Antibodies are 40 times less effective,” he said.

As he explained, immunity is not like national defense. We have the aviation which is the antibodies, the infantry which corresponds to the BD defense defense and the navy which is the T lymphocytes. According to Mr. Prassas, at the moment no executive, including Omicron, can be erased with one or three lines of defense. “What we do know is that this particular strain is much more effective in breaking down the airline that is responsible for not even getting infected with the virus. So, this strain is much more contagious. “What is much more encouraging is that the other two lines of defense seem to be holding very tight, which means that protection against serious illness seems to be holding very high even against Omicron.”

He added that the new data show that patients who have been ill once and given the double dose of the vaccine have a very significant boost in their antibodies to the point that not even Omicron can break the protection against infection. In fact, he estimated that it is very possible that this triple exposure to the antigen, which seems to strengthen the body’s defense so much, can be valid with the triple vaccine dose.

“The bell is ringing again very loudly for those who are not vaccinated despite the fact that Omicron does not show serious illnesses. We have to look at it very carefully because it is possible that these populations have been massively exposed to the virus before and this just proves what we knew, that the first exposure to the virus is the most dangerous. That’s why they need to run fast to get vaccinated because time is running out for them. The rest of us will have to do the third dose, strengthen our defense and wait as safely as possible in case Omicron comes “, pointed out the doctor of Molecular Biology.

As for the evolution of the virus which is considered to give milder diseases, he claimed that it is something unfounded. “If the variant is to cause less serious illness, it will be just a matter of time,” he said.

He underlined that with the new data it becomes even more certain that Omicron will probably prevail in the next 2-3 months.

Asked if we can talk about the gradual weakening of the virus, Mr. Prassas said that we should see it at great times. “This virus is basically transmitted by symptoms. He does not care what the patient will do after he has managed to transmit it. In this sense there is not much evolutionary pressure to make this virus milder. “If it happens, it will simply be a happy occasion,” he said.

Vaccines are effective

As for vaccines, he said that although the vaccines were designed for Johann’s original strain, they are also very effective against Delta and are very likely to be very effective against serious illness for Omicron as well. “If we see that the reduction in effectiveness is significant, we will have new vaccines in 4-6 months,” he added.

In this context, he made clear the need to be vaccinated, primarily the elderly, stressing that “each vaccination of an elderly person corresponds to hundreds of vaccinations of the elderly, as basically the elderly end up in the ICU”.

Referring to possible side effects of the vaccines, he said that they are extremely minimal and have been recorded. “When it reaches 7 billion vaccinations, there is nothing that has escaped you,” he concluded.

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