Live updates: follow the latest news on Covid-19 variant Omicron
Omicron significantly reduces the ability of antibodies generated by two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to neutralise the variant, a small study has found.
The laboratory tests suggest there is a “very large” drop in neutralisation of Omicron by the vaccine, relative to the original virus.
But escape is not complete, researchers said, meaning antibodies produced by the vaccine will retain some protection against the strain.
The pre-print study, which has not been reviewed yet, was carried out by South African scientists at the Africa Health Research Institute, who tested blood samples of 12 people previously vaccinated with two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech.
They found a 41-fold drop in the ability of the antibodies to neutralise the variant.
Lead researcher Prof Alex Sigal said previous infection plus vaccination still neutralises the strain.
“Omicron escape from BNT162b2 [Pfizer-BioNTech] neutralisation is incomplete,” he tweeted.
“Previous infection + vaccination still neutralises.”
Experts said the “clinical implications” of the data need to be determined.
“It is likely that lesser vaccine-induced protection against infection and disease would be the result,” said Africa Health Research Institute executive director, professor Willem Hanekom.
“Importantly, most vaccinologists agree that the current vaccines will still protect against severe disease and death in the face of Omicron infection.
“It is therefore critical that everyone should be vaccinated.”
The results are in line with an earlier estimate of a 25 to 60-fold drop in the ability of antibodies to neutralise the virus.
Experts said the predictions were not a surprise given the high number of mutations in Omicron.
“Even if Omicron is also more infectious, the main driver of increased transmission is probably immune escape,” Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases specialist and professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia in the UK, told The National.
“This fits with what we are seeing in South Africa and globally about the rapid spread and the marked increase in reinfections.”
Immunologists said the predictions underscore the importance of receiving vaccine booster shots to bolster protection against the new strain.
“It’s likely the effect of antibodies will drop but quantity (eg after a booster) can trump quality when it comes to antibodies and the T cell response might also help protect against severe disease,” Luke O’Neill, professor of biochemistry in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin, told The National.
“The data from South Africa do indeed suggest mild disease but again we need more information especially around the age profile.
“We still don’t know the risk of Omicron for older people but again if they are boosted there may be protection.”
BioNTech’s chief executive earlier sought to allay fears about the Omicron coronavirus variant, saying the Pfizer vaccine will probably offer a robust defence against severe disease.
Ugur Sahin, who is also co-founder of the drug giant, said people should not “freak out” about the latest variant that has sent governments rushing to impose travel restrictions.
He said that even though the highly mutated variant could result in more vaccinated people becoming infected with the virus, it will probably be targeted by immune cells.
Hospital admissions have climbed in all provinces in South Africa, with 135 people admitted in hardest-hit Gauteng alone on Tuesday, 38 more people in the ICU, and an additional 10 people placed on ventilators.
Across the country in the past week, 1,384 people were admitted, 120 to the ICU, and 22 more people were placed on ventilators.
Symptoms of the Omicron variant
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A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
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Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
Kat Wightman's tips on how to create zones in large spaces
- Area carpets or rugs are the easiest way to segregate spaces while also unifying them.
- Lighting can help define areas. Try pendant lighting over dining tables, and side and floor lamps in living areas.
- Keep the colour palette the same in a room, but combine different tones and textures in different zone. A common accent colour dotted throughout the space brings it together.
- Don’t be afraid to use furniture to break up the space. For example, if you have a sofa placed in the middle of the room, a console unit behind it will give good punctuation.
- Use a considered collection of prints and artworks that work together to form a cohesive journey.
Profile Idealz
Company: Idealz
Founded: January 2018
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Size: (employees): 22
Investors: Co-founders and Venture Partners (9 per cent)
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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