The Omicron variant driven wave of COVID-19 will now turn to small towns and villages in the coming few weeks after its transmission in metro cities as each tim
to spread in other parts of the world, really. ithink to spread in other parts of the world, really. i think that will be the deciding information. find world, really. i think that will be the deciding information.- the deciding information. and in terms of the the deciding information. and in terms of the spread. the deciding information. and in terms of the spread. it - the deciding information. and in terms of the spread. it was - the deciding information. and in terms of the spread. it was first | terms of the spread. it was first officially identified in south africa, just a week ago, and the world health organization declared it a variant of concern on the 26th of november but it seems that it would have been circulating before that and one scientist at least has said that it is likely it emerged in september or october. where are you in terms of understanding how far back it might have been circulating? so this can be quite hard to tell because obviously around the world, g
the world as there is a race to understand what 0micron is going to mean. initially, it seems it spreads very rapidly. it is the most far spreading variant of covid. many mutations in this particular variant but the questions are still swirling about the impact of the variant, with some reports saying it is mild and others are urging caution. dr ewan harrison from the wellcome sanger institute which completes that work in the uk. thank you forjoining us. can you tell us what the latest is on the analysis of 0micron in the lab, effectively? fist analysis of omicron in the lab, effectively? analysis of omicron in the lab, effectively? analysis of omicron in the lab, effectivel ? ., ., effectively? at the moment we are still laruel effectively? at the moment we are still largely in effectively? at the moment we are still largely in the effectively? at the moment we are still largely in the same effectively? at the moment we are still largely in the same position i still largely
more transmissible, both of which have broad and important implications to the global pandemic. so until i think there is more systematic studies, we really cannot say either way. idr systematic studies, we really cannot say either way- say either way. dr ewan harrison, thank you- in the uk, the government has ordered millions of additional covid vaccines to future proof the coronavirus booster programme. simon jones has more. relax your arm, slight scratch. all done. the government has promised to offer a boosterjab to all eligible adults in england by the end ofjanuary. but it s also looking further ahead, to a time when boosters may be needed again and again, so it s secured an additional 60 million doses of the moderna vaccine, and 5a million doses of the pfizer jab. they will be the latest vaccines that they will have, because as we re seeing right now, there s a new variant, there s potentially new variants in the future. we know that covid is going to be around for a while.
increasing transmissibility, like increasing tra nsmissibility, like delta increasing transmissibility, like delta and alpha variants, they are mutations which have been seen previously in other mutations which have some ability to overcome antibody immunity. what is important is at the moment until we get experimental evidence, it s very hard to tell. a single mutation tells us one thing but when they are together they could either work very well together or they might actually work negatively together, so that they might not actually be as bad as i think. until we get the experimental data, we have to assume the presence of these mutations and take the precautionary principle and be very wary. take the precautionary principle and be very wary- be very wary. anecdotally so far they report be very wary. anecdotally so far they report seem be very wary. anecdotally so far they report seem to be very wary. anecdotally so far they report seem to be - be very wary. anecdotally so fa