As the Omicron variant continues to spread rapidly worldwide, particularly in Europe where several countries set new daily infection records yesterday, including Germany with over 200,000 new cases, there is a glimmer of hope from an American expert who confirms that we are nearing the end. A specialist at the Vanderbilt University Vaccine Center agrees with some opinions regarding the positive outcomes that could arise from the emergence of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, which has less severe symptoms.
James Crow, a professor at Vanderbilt, supports the view that "these characteristics make the new variant a safe means to train the human immune system, aiding in achieving rapid herd immunity and paving the way for the virus to transition from epidemic status to endemic." The Saudi newspaper Asharq Al-Awsat quoted Crow stating, "This is a reasonable scenario that many experts agree with."
**Beginning of the End**
Like many who share this view, Crow refuses to predict a specific timeline for the end of the pandemic, adding: "Omicron is the beginning of the end, but it's clear that predicting the near future with COVID-19 is difficult." While the Omicron variant has the advantage of not causing severe symptoms that require hospitalization, it possesses over 30 mutations in the virus's spike protein, which has considerably reduced the effectiveness of vaccines designed based on the original strain. However, Crow asserts that vaccines have not returned to square one, saying: "Vaccines still stimulate antibodies with reactivity that can recognize Omicron, especially after a booster dose."
Crow emphasizes the importance of this booster dose, noting that it significantly helps ensure that the new variant does not cause severe symptoms upon infection.
**The World Has Not Returned to Square One**
Just as the world has not returned to square one with vaccines, despite the numerous mutations in the Omicron variant that differentiate it from the original strain, the same applies to antibody treatments. These treatments are used to prevent patients from developing severe COVID-19 and some are also used for disease prevention. Mutations in the Omicron variant have led to many treatments losing their effectiveness, as confirmed by a study involving Crow, published on January 19 in Nature Medicine. However, he pointed out in his comments that "some antibody treatments remain effective."
Regarding the subvariant of Omicron BA.2, sometimes called "stealth Omicron" due to the difficulty in monitoring it through PCR tests, and whether it could worsen the situation regarding the effectiveness of antibody drugs and vaccines, the American expert stated: "The virulence of this variant is still unclear, and there is not enough data to indicate whether this variant is more resistant to vaccines or approved antibodies."
**European Medicines Agency Approves Pfizer Drug**
On Thursday, the European Medicines Agency approved the use of Pfizer's COVID treatment, marking the first oral treatment for the disease to get authorization in Europe. The agency stated that it "recommended using Paxlovid for treating COVID-19 in adults who are at increased risk of developing severe disease."
Simultaneously, American pharmaceutical company Moderna announced they would begin clinical trials for a booster vaccine specifically designed to combat the Omicron variant. On Thursday, the UK lifted nearly all COVID-19 restrictions, hoping, according to the government, that the population can learn to coexist with COVID-19 as if it were influenza.
This lifting of restrictions offers more freedom and aims to replace legal measures with "advice or recommendations" as Boris Johnson faces difficulties following the scandals of parties held at Downing Street that violated COVID-19 restrictions at the time.
**Over 5.6 Million Deaths Worldwide**
The coronavirus has caused at least 5,625,889 deaths globally since it emerged in China in December 2019. The United States has recorded the highest death toll from the virus (876,066), followed by Brazil (624,413), India (491,700), and Russia (328,770). The World Health Organization estimates that the total death toll could be two to three times higher, considering the excess deaths directly and indirectly linked to the pandemic.
