Covid-19 Updates in Brief, Part # 10

You have read previously ” Covid19 Updates in Brief, Part # 9 ” . Part # 10 covers updates from December 16 to December 31, 2021.

Updates:

• Researches from Hon Kong have found that the  Omicron variant grow 75 % faster than the Delta variant in human bronchus and is less infectious in the lung tissues.
• BioNTech  CEO and co-founder Ugur Sahin  said on December o3, 2021 at the Reuters News Conference, that we will be needing to have  a Covid-19  shot  every year .
• According to NBC News,  new recommendation  issued by the CDC to the people saying that people should avoid to get vaccinated with  Johnson & Johnson vaccine . If possible, the Moderna or Pfizer  BioNTech vaccines are the best choice.
• It was explained that there is a small blood clot  risk for the people who get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. At least 54 people were hospitalized  for blood clots linked to the vaccine and 9 were died.
• Bloomberg reported  that Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine produced no antibody protection against Omicron variant  in a laboratory experiment . And the variant has ability  to get pass the body defense.
• South African Virologist Penny Moore, PhD,  said in an online presentation that Johnson & Johnson vaccine could provide some small protection against Omicron.
• Drug maker Moderna announced on December 20, 2021  that preliminary data shows that booster doses of Moderna Covid-19 vaccine  booster can boost neutralizing antibody level 37-fold higher  than pre-booster levels..
• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen  said on December 15, 2021 that Omicron variant  could be the dominant variant in Europe some time in January 2022. This was reported by  Associated Press.
• Researchers of Oxford University took  blood samples of fully vaccinated people from Com-COV study and live coronavirus isolate  and they found that Omicron may infect the people already fully vaccinated.

source: Healthline – Eu official says omicron will be a dominant variant by january

• Researchers claim that an antimalarial  ” Atovaquone ” has potential effects against Covid-19. It inhibits  replication of SARS-CoV-2 in human lung cells. More clinical trials are needed   before  the drug  is approved for Covid-19 treatment.
• Current vaccines target the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 . This protein  mutate numerously . This could  effect the current available Covid-19 vaccines less effective.
• There are researches going on in U.S.A. focusing on the effects of T cells . These T cells recognize a different protein in the virus. This protein    mutates  slowly  as compared  to  spike protein.
• T cells are a type like our white blood cells . T cells  have a unique characteristics . They have ability to remember  antigens for many years. Researchers are hoping that using these T cells method  may provide  more lasting Covid-19 vaccines.
• Researchers are working on the incident of heart inflammation after Pfizer  and Moderna  vaccination in Denmark. They found that both vaccines , specially Moderna vaccine have a link to increased rate of inflammation in two areas of the heart, Such cases were rare.
• A good news. U.K government has approved for use the first oral antiviral treatment for people with Covid-19.
• Drug Maker Pfizer has published a statement claiming that their drug ” PAXLOVID ” is safe and has antiviral effects on SARS-CoV-2
• It looks that Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 is attacking the human with its new born sub variant called AY.4.2.  The sub variant is spreading in the U.K.
•  As per U.K. Health Security Agency , AY.4.2. is still classified as a “variant under investigation”  and not a ” variant  of concern ” unlike its Delta parent AY.4. The new sub variant of the virus is distinguished by two mutations in the spike protein called Y145H and A222V.

source: medicalnewstoday