Pouch: "Omicron-Specific Vaccine Unnecessary"... Controversy Over Risks Spreads (Comprehensive)

40% of Adults in UK Received Booster Shot, Record High Spread
WHO "Existing Vaccine Effectiveness May Decrease... Premature Judgment Not Advisable"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy reporters Hyunwoo Lee and Hyunui Cho] U.S. health authorities have stated that the COVID-19 Omicron variant can be effectively protected against with additional doses (booster shots) of existing vaccines, making a dedicated Omicron vaccine unnecessary. However, as the number of COVID-19 cases surges rapidly in the UK, where booster shot administration is accelerating, concerns about the collapse of the healthcare system are growing. In Hong Kong, research results have also emerged indicating that although the Omicron variant has much higher transmissibility than the Delta variant, its spread in the lungs is weaker, resulting in a lower fatality rate.

On the 15th (local time), Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), stated at a White House COVID-19 briefing, "Two doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines still show a 70% effectiveness in preventing hospitalization, and receiving a booster shot increases immunity effectiveness up to 75%," adding, "At the current level, a dedicated Omicron vaccine is not necessary, and booster shots provide sufficient protection." This means there is no need to wait for the development of a newly adjusted vaccine specifically for Omicron; booster shots of existing vaccines are enough.

40% of Adults in the UK Have Received Booster Shots, Experiencing the Highest Spread Ever

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

However, as the healthcare system crisis becomes a reality centered in the UK, where the Omicron variant is spreading severely, there is considerable opposition urging increased vigilance. In the UK, 40% of adults have completed their booster shots.

The UK health authorities reported that the number of new COVID-19 cases reached 78,610 on this day. This is an increase of nearly 20,000 cases from the previous day's 59,610. This is the highest number ever recorded since the COVID-19 outbreak, exceeding the previous record of 68,053 cases set on January 8 of this year by more than 10,000 cases.

The rapid spread in the UK is attributed to the Omicron variant. On this day, there were 4,671 new Omicron infections, bringing the cumulative total to 10,017. Jenny Harries, chief of the UK Health Security Agency (HSA), warned, "Omicron is the most serious threat we have faced since the pandemic began," adding, "The numbers we will see over the next few days in the data will be quite shocking compared to previous variants."

The World Health Organization (WHO) also warned that considering some immune evasion capabilities of the Omicron variant and breakthrough infection cases, health authorities worldwide should not lower their guard. In a video briefing, WHO stated, "Existing vaccines may be less effective against the Omicron variant," and warned, "As the number of Omicron sequences is rapidly increasing in the COVID-19 genomic surveillance data reported by health authorities worldwide, risk assessments should not be made prematurely."

Hong Kong University Researchers: "Weaker Lung Spread Than Delta... Lower Fatality Rate"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Research results indicating that the Omicron variant has a lower fatality rate than the Delta variant have also been announced. According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University research team announced yesterday that although the Omicron variant’s transmissibility is 70 times higher than that of the Delta variant, its spread in the lungs is much weaker.

Dr. Michael Chan Chi-wai, senior researcher at the Immunology and Infection Center of the School of Public Health at Hong Kong University and leader of the study, explained, "Omicron has high transmissibility within the host, but its cell replication rate is significantly lower than that of the Delta variant, especially in the lungs, where cell proliferation was about one-tenth compared to Delta."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.