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It is hard to believe but the coronavirus pandemic has been going on for over two years now. It has changed the way we interact, talk, and enjoy ourselves at social gatherings. However, since the first vaccines were given the green light, the pandemic seems to be slowing down. The delta variant of the virus was of some concern, but ever since the omicron variant came into the light, things seem to be going in the right direction. The omicron variant is already very mild and very few hospitalizations and deaths have been reported due to the virus.
One good news that has surfaced in the light of the omicron variant is that Pfizer and BioNTech have started clinical trials of their covid vaccine against the omicron variant. They plan to test the effects of the vaccine as a booster jab for vaccinated persons and as three separate doses on unvaccinated people. It is estimated that more than 1400 people are going to be enrolled in the trials which are going to take place in the United States. Moderna, an other company known for developing vaccines, has also said that they are beginning their own trials for their vaccine.
AstraZeneca have also started working in their version of the omicron vaccine. Vaccine manufacturers had already predicted that they might have to modify their original covid vaccines to fight the new variants. However, since omicron is far more contagious and spreads at a rapid pace, the companies have had to double down on their efforts to roll out a new version of the vaccine. Since these new vaccines are still not available many countries have offered a third dose of the original vaccine to their citizens, which has proven to be effective against the newer variants.
One of the main concerns that medical professionals have with the omicron variant is that it spreads very quickly. So, even though this new variant doesn’t seem to be as deadly as the earlier versions, the sheer rate at which it is going to infect people will still be concerning as it will put more pressure on hospitals. Even though companies are trying very hard to work on a better vaccine for the omicron variant, there is still doubt among the people regarding the efficacy of the new vaccine.
WHO has said that the omicron variant is a good sign because since it’s effects are not as deadly, it essentially means that the pandemic is coming to an end. However, if we are supposed to fight this virus and truly put an end to it, all of us must play a part. One of the first things that you need to do is get vaccinated if you have still not gotten it. For those who have got their vaccine, they should get their booster shots to give themselves better protection against the virus. Thirdly, it is important to abide by the covid protocols in your respective countries and maintain social distancing.
