THE coronavirus has surprised us through its evolution and I think we need at least him one year cycle since last April, in order to be able to draw a safe conclusion that these negative surprises with the mutations and the changes in his profile will have stopped, stated in the FM Agency and in the show of Tania H. Mantouvalos “104.9 HEALTH SECRETS” the Assistant Professor of Epidemiology, Clinical Virologist and Member of the Committee of Experts of the Ministry of Health Gikas Majorkinis. “That is, in a year we should know if we have reached this stage of stagnation-endemicity, where we will coexist with the virus and it will not change its properties dramatically, at least in terms of pathogenesis.”
After Omicron only its sub-variants appear
Regarding virus mutations Mr. Majorkinis mentions that there is a phenomenon that experts have been observing in recent months and it is quite interesting: “So far we have seen mutations from a different branch of evolution unfold. We had Alpha, then came Beta, Gamma, Delta, which were completely different from each other. Ever since he appeared or Omicron we see only sub-variants of it, as now with O4 and O5 in Africa. This is the first time we have seen a development that is close to what we expect. It is logical not to see an increase in pathogenicity, but we can not rule it out in the future. However, the situation lately is more compatible with the endemicity, than with the previous waves, where mutations from different branches were emerging “.
For the last two variants in Africa, the data are still early, says the epidemiologist, pointing out that scientists do not have an accurate picture, but there is talk of 10-20% increased transmissibility compared to Omicron. “Every time I hear such a percentage, I find it difficult to attribute it only to the contagion, there is definitely an immune escape, there is definitely an immune memory compared to previous strains.”
Unless there is a dramatic increase in the epidemic, the fourth dose may not be mandatory
Regarding the fourth dose and the scientific debate by some that frequent vaccinations may tire the immune system, Mr. Majorkinis says, is a myth, and there is no evidence of it. He even reminds that there are vaccine regimens that are both five-dose and six-dose. “I think that the fourth dose will gradually need to be given to the general population, but I do not think that this will happen soon. That is, perhaps before or during an intense epidemic wave. “If we do not see a dramatic increase in the epidemic, the fourth dose may not be included in the vaccination program as mandatory, but as a recommendation.”.
For course of the pandemic in Greece Mr. Majorkinis states that it is in recession with the number of intubated people falling below two hundred, after a long time. “The forecast is that the decline will continue for the next one to two months. In October of the previous two years we saw an increase in transmissibility. I take it for granted that it will happen again this year, in late October. “Now if this is going to put a lot of pressure on the health system, it is extremely difficult to predict.”
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