Omikron is likely to become the dominant variant in Germany in the coming weeks. What does this mean for the vaccinations? And how severe are omicron infections? An overview.
In Germany, the corona situation has recently stabilized slightly: The seven-day incidence has been falling for a few days, as has the number of Covid 19 intensive care patients. However, both values remain at a high level. Experts are concerned about the impending spread of the Corona variant Omikron: The mutant, which was initially detected in South Africa, is considered highly contagious and
The vast majority of corona cases in Germany are currently still due to the delta variant. But a look at countries like Denmark shows the speed with which Omikron can spread. In Great Britain, too, the mutant is currently gaining ground at an extremely high pace: experts there expect the number of cases to double
What is in store for us with Omikron in the coming weeks? An overview.
What is the difference between Omikron and previous versions?
What is particularly noticeable about the variant is the high number of mutations that affect the spike protein of the virus: there are 30 deviations in this part of the genome alone. The protein plays a key role in the transmission of Sars-CoV-2: The virus docks with it on human cells in order to subsequently infect them.
Mutations are not initially worrying per se – even the sheer number does not initially say anything about whether the virus may have become more contagious or “more dangerous”.
The problem, however, is that the current vaccines are aimed at the spike protein of the coronavirus from the beginning of the pandemic – not the modified omicron variant. that the antibodies of twice vaccinated Omikron can neutralize worse than previous variants. Experts therefore assume that Omikron leads to more breakthrough infections – i.e. infections despite a complete vaccination – and re-infections. It is therefore to be expected that the incidence with Omikron will increase sharply again.
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) assumes a “massive fifth wave” in view of Omikron,
Does that make the current vaccines useless?
No, not at all. Because the body’s immune response is not based on antibodies alone, but also on so-called T cells. Experts therefore assume that people who have been vaccinated will continue to be well protected from severe Covid-19 courses despite their weakening protection against infection.
However, the weakening protection against infection underlines the need for a booster vaccination. A booster vaccination can significantly increase the protective effect again,
The evaluation showed that the protection against symptomatic infection with Omikron drops to 34 percent 15 weeks after the second dose of Biontech. People who had been vaccinated with two doses of the Astrazeneca preparation were no longer protected from symptomatic infection. Two weeks after a booster vaccination, the protective effect of both preparations increased to over 70 percent. However, due to the small number of Omicron cases examined, the numbers still have to be interpreted with caution.
Vaccine manufacturers are currently working on updated vaccines against Omikron. However, it will take a few more months until these are available nationwide. not to wait for updated vaccines for the booster, but to use the latest vaccines.
There is evidence that Omikron leads to milder disease courses. Is that true?
There is still no definite answer to that. From South Africa there are initial indications of comparatively mild disease courses with Omikron. However, it is unclear whether these findings can also be transferred to other countries such as Germany with a much higher average age. A higher or old age is considered a risk factor for severe Covid-19 courses.
The reports from South Africa have so far been based. In addition, many people in South Africa are already considered to have recovered: If these people become infected again, milder courses can be expected anyway. That, too, could currently distort the picture.
How many Omikron cases have there been in Germany so far?
The Robert Koch Institute had counted 112 confirmed Omikron cases up to December 14th. In addition, there are 213 suspected cases in which the PCR test showed certain abnormalities that suggest that it may be an omicron. However, these samples have to be examined again via genome sequencing in order to confirm the initial suspicion.
When could Omikron become the dominant variant in Germany?
that the variant will become the dominant variant in Europe as a whole in the first two months of 2022. Omikron could develop into the dominant variant in Germany as early as January.
What do experts advise?
Experts such as the chairman of the German Society for Infectious Diseases, Bernd Salzberger, are pushing for the interval between the second and third vaccination to be shortened. The Standing Vaccination Commission has usually recommended six months so far, but depending on the federal state, it is also possible earlier. A quicker booster vaccination could influence the spread of both the delta and the omicron variant, “the experience from Israel shows that very impressively,” Salzberger recently told the newspapers of the Funke media group.
In order to slow the spread of the variant, the President of the Robert Koch Institute, Lothar Wieler, called on Thursday to only celebrate Christmas in a small group. “We all want to spend the holidays with family and friends, but we all have to work together to ensure that Christmas doesn’t become a kick start for Omikron,” he said in Berlin. He “urged” citizens to spend the holidays in such a way that they would “not become a festival for the virus”.
With a view to Christmas, Federal Health Minister Lauterbach also appealed to all citizens to follow the principle when traveling: “We protect each other.” Everyone should be tested beforehand or at least test themselves – preferably several times. The minister made it clear that particular caution is required, especially for people without a booster vaccination.
In order to relieve the hospitals before the expected wave of Omikron, a rapid increase in the vaccination rate is urgently required in addition to the intensification of the contact-restricting measures, 24 percent of the 18 to 59-year-olds and 12 percent of the over 60-year-olds are still unvaccinated .
Source From: Stern
