Omicron Variant Fatality Rate 0.16%... One-Fifth of Delta's Level (Update)

On the 24th, when 7,513 new COVID-19 cases were reported, citizens lined up to get tested at a temporary screening clinic set up at the Sogang University Station Plaza in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] The transmissibility of the Omicron variant is more than twice that of the Delta variant, but its fatality rate is about one-fifth, according to an analysis.

On the 24th, according to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, a comparative analysis was conducted on confirmed cases of Delta and Omicron variants in South Korea to evaluate the severity of the Omicron variant. The fatality rate of the Omicron variant was 0.16%, about one-fifth lower than that of the Delta virus (0.8%).

The effectiveness of infection prevention against the Omicron variant decreases over time after the second vaccination dose, but the effect of preventing severe illness persists. In cases of a third dose, neutralizing antibodies were found to increase.

According to domestic research, neutralizing ability against Omicron and Delta variant viruses increased after the third dose. Among adults vaccinated with Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines, those who received a third dose with the Pfizer vaccine showed a 10.5 to 113.2-fold increase in neutralizing antibody titers against the Omicron strain 2 to 4 weeks after vaccination compared to before vaccination.

In particular, among the elderly aged 75 and older who received all three doses with Pfizer, neutralizing antibody titers increased 113.2-fold after the third dose.

The effectiveness of treatments against the Omicron variant shows that existing antibody therapies are less effective, but antiviral drugs such as Paxlovid have been reported to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death by more than 80%.

The Central Disease Control Headquarters judged that although the Omicron variant has a low severity rate, its high transmissibility could place a serious burden on quarantine and medical response if a large-scale outbreak occurs in a short period. While the 'individual severity' is low, the 'scale of social damage' is expected to increase.

Jung Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, said, "If the spread accelerates among young and middle-aged groups, it could cause disruptions in social functions due to work absences," and added, "To maintain essential social functions such as healthcare, caregiving, and education, it is necessary to increase the third dose vaccination rate and establish and implement continuity plans for each sector."

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