Explainer: What do we know about COVID variant XBB.1.5?
- 06-Jan-2023
The Omicron subvariant, XBB.1.5, is causing concern among scientists after its rapid spread in the United States in December. Here is what we know so far: WHAT IS THE XBB.1.5 SUBVARIANT AND HOW DOES IT BEHAVE? The World Health Organization’s senior epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove said XBB.1.5 is the most transmissible Omicron sub-variant that has […]
Karachi detects six cases of new Covid-19 variant
- 03-Jan-2023
KARACHI: The Sindh Health Department on Tuesday confirmed the presence of XBB and XBB-1 sub-variants of the Omicron variant in Karachi, ARY News reported. Karachi has detected six cases of the new Covid-19 variant, XBB and XBB-1, the health department said in a statement. However, they confirmed that the South Asian country was still safe […]
Over 40% of US COVID cases caused by Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5
- 31-Dec-2022
Over 40% of COVID-19 cases in the United States are now caused by the highly contagious Omicron XBB.1.5, data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed on Friday, with the subvariant doubling from the previous week. Although many public health experts are expressing concern about the rising COVID cases in China, infectious […]
UK approves Pfizer’s COVID booster targeting Omicron BA.4/5
- 09-Nov-2022
UK health regulator on Wednesday approved the country’s first two-pronged COVID-19 booster targeting the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants and the original coronavirus strain. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said the vaccine from Pfizer and partner BioNTech was approved for use as a booster in people 12 years and older after it […]
Novavax says Omicron shot shows strong immune response as second booster
- 09-Nov-2022
Vaccine maker Novavax Inc said on Tuesday its COVID-19 shot retooled against the Omicron BA.1 variant showed a strong immune response as the fourth dose and met the main goal of strain change in a late-stage study. Data showed the shot, NVX-CoV2515, produced 1.6 times the amount of neutralizing antibodies in people who had previously […]
Pfizer/BioNTech Omicron vaccine shows strong response
- 05-Nov-2022
US drugmaker Pfizer and German partner BioNTech SE said on Friday their Omicron-tailored shot targeting the BA.4/5 subvariants produced a strong antibody response in older adults than the original shot after one month. In October, the companies had released data which showed the vaccine produced higher virus-neutralizing antibodies in humans after a week, but did […]
Pfizer, BioNTech say updated COVID booster protects against Omicron
- 13-Oct-2022
Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech said their COVID-19 vaccine booster, adapted for the BA.4 and the BA.5 subvariants of Omicron, generated a strong immune response and was well-tolerated in testing on humans. With the results, which the companies described as consistent with preclinical data, the partners are following up with human trial data that […]
Germany to start Omicron-adapted COVID vaccinations next week – minister
- 02-Sep-2022
BERLIN: Germany can next week start using COVID-19 vaccines which have been adapted for the Omicron variant and got approval for use in the European Union on Thursday, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said. He said approval of the BA.1 vaccine was a quantum leap in the fight against the pandemic as vaccines were now available […]
Omicron-adapted COVID vaccine wins first approval in Britain
- 15-Aug-2022
Britain has become the first country to approve a COVID-19 vaccine that targets both the original and Omicron variant of the virus. The UK medicines regulator (MHRA) approved the so-called bivalent vaccine made by U.S. drug company Moderna as a booster for adults. The agency’s decision was based on clinical trial data that showed the […]
Omicron better at invading young noses than other COVID variants
- 03-Aug-2022
The following is a summary of some recent studies on the COVID-19 Omicron variant. They include research that warrants further study to corroborate the findings and that has yet to be certified by peer review. Children’s noses defend less well against Omicron The Omicron variant may be more efficient at infecting children through the nose […]