INSACOG: Corona's Omicron variant specializes in dodging immunity, reduces the risk of serious illness

Amidst the increasing cases of Omicron infection of the coronavirus in the country, the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium INSACOG in its latest bulletin, citing global data, has said that now we have clear experimental and clinical data available. This explains that Omicron has a very high ability to evade immunity. Omicron cases are increasing rapidly around the world.

However, as per initial estimates, the disease caused by this variant is not as severe as in the previous variant like Delta, which caused the second wave of the pandemic in the country. Insacag said that India has adopted appropriate public health standards and Omicron's surveillance is being investigated. So far, 781 cases of Omicron have been reported in 21 states and union territories in India.

Lack of protection from vaccines

It also noted that there are a significant reduction in the ability of previous infections or vaccines to protect against symptomatic (including symptomatic) infections caused by the Omicron variant. delta remains a variant of concern globally, but Omicron has completely displaced it in southern Africa and is on track to become a major virus in the UK and elsewhere.