Omicron News and Research

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Trajectory of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and immunity examined in new model

Researchers have created a model of looking at the spread of COVID-19 that takes both vaccination rates and rates of loss of immunity into account and can be adjusted as factors change.

15 Dec 2021

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant binding to its receptor and therapeutic entities

Researchers generated a set of computed structural models of the Omicron receptor-binding domain attached to its receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme.

15 Dec 2021

Monoclonal antibody activity against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant

Scientists from Germany have recently pointed out that the third booster dose of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine is highly effective in neutralizing the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.

15 Dec 2021

Structure of human receptor and Omicron variant

Researchers studied the complex structure of the receptor-binding domain of the omicron variant with the human host receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2.

15 Dec 2021

How fast has the Omicron strain been spreading in South Africa?

Scientists have shown the exponential growth of the Omicron strain found in Gauteng. They reported the doubling time of this strain to be equal to 3.38 days by analyzing its growth from November 8 to December 5, 2021. Based on the mutation accumulation profile, researchers revealed that this strain began to diverge between October 28 and November 5, 2021.

15 Dec 2021

Omicron evades immunity more than other SARS-CoV-2 variants

Researchers find that the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant shows a much more extensive escape from vaccine-elicited immunity.

14 Dec 2021

Temporary suspension of 15-minute observation period after vaccination to accelerate booster program

The 15 minute observation period following a vaccination with Pfizer or Moderna will be temporarily suspended as part of new measures to speed up the booster rollout as part of our emergency response to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant.

14 Dec 2021

England's Chief Medical Officer calls on the public to get booster vaccination

Chief Medical Officer for England Professor Chris Whitty will call on the public to get a booster vaccination, in a nationwide advertising campaign launching today (Tuesday 14 December) to further galvanize the booster program.

14 Dec 2021

Evaluating the exclusion of unvaccinated people in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 transmission

New study results suggest that the numbers needed to exclude model and baseline infection risk could be key indicators of the drawbacks and benefits of vaccine mandates and vaccine passports.

14 Dec 2021

Machine learning method for determining impact of mutations in the SARS-CoV-2 RBD on binding and antibody escape

Deep mutational learning (DML) is a technique developed by researchers from multiple institutions that combines experimental yeast display screening of RBD mutagenesis libraries with deep sequencing and machine learning.

14 Dec 2021

Trial in sub-Saharan Africa evaluates the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccine in people living with HIV

A highly anticipated clinical trial in eight sub-Saharan countries is the first to specifically evaluate the efficacy of a COVID-19 vaccine in people living with HIV, including those with poorly controlled infections.

13 Dec 2021

Omicron variant may strike double vaccinated

Largely, scientists are skeptical that the Omicron variant can infect vaccinated individuals. However, a new study published on the medRxiv* preprint server has conducted neutralization assays using an Omicron isolate obtained from patients residing in the United Kingdom.

13 Dec 2021