Quote:In the UK, Dr Paul Burton, chief medical officer at Moderna, has been speaking to MPs on the Commons science and technology committee. Burton said he expects data in the coming days to show how well the Moderna booster improves protection against the Omicron variant.He cautioned against claims, largely from South Africa, that the variant is causing milder disease, and warned that Omicron and Delta are likely to circulate together for some time. “I do not think Omicron is a milder, less severe version of the current virus,” he told the committee. He added: The idea it will push Delta out of the way and take over may occur in the future, but I think in the coming months these two viruses are going to co-exist, and Omicron, which I would maintain is actually a severe disease, will now infect people on a background of very, very strong Delta pressure.
It will also lead to a situation where individuals will become co-infected … which gives the opportunity for this virus to further evolve and mutate which is a concerning and worrying situation. We certainly don’t have to panic, we have many many tools at our disposal, we’ve learnt so much about this virus over the last two years, and we can continue to fight it, but I think Omicron poses a real threat. When you look at the data in SA about 15% of people who are hospitalised are in the intensive care unit, and while there’s variability, if you look back earlier in the year, at a time of delta surge in August, those numbers are about the same, 15%. So while the mortality rate we are seeing right now is mercifully lower, I think as a disease it is a very fit virus and it’s severe. Coronavirus live: Omicron poses real threat, says Moderna chief; Pfizer says Covid pill near 90% effective | World news | The Guardian
- And luckily some good news, for a change..
Quote:Pfizer Inc has said final analysis of its antiviral Covid-19 pill still showed near 90% efficacy in preventing hospitalisations and deaths in high-risk patients, and recent lab data suggests the drug retains its effectiveness against the Omicron variant, Reuters reports. The US drugmaker last month said the oral medicine was about 89% effective in preventing hospitalisations or deaths when compared with placebo based on interim results in about 1,200 people. The data disclosed on Tuesday includes an additional 1,000 people. Nobody in the trial who received the Pfizer treatment died, compared with 12 deaths among placebo recipients. Coronavirus live: Omicron poses real threat, says Moderna chief; Pfizer says Covid pill near 90% effective | World news | The Guardian