Omicron News and Research

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Omicron analysis shows no clear evidence for increased virulence or lethality

Researchers conducted a genomic sequencing and epidemiological correlation analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.

29 Dec 2021

At least 3 exposures to vaccine or virus needed for minimum protection against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron

Researchers determine the serum neutralizing and binding activity against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in individuals with different levels of immunity.

29 Dec 2021

MRNA boosters shown to increase protection against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron

Researchers evaluate vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and Delta variants.

29 Dec 2021

BNT162b2 booster restores protection following waning of the 2-dose vaccine

Researchers assess the real-world effectiveness of a third booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine against the initial two-dose regimen.

29 Dec 2021

COVID mRNA vaccines show diminished neutralization responses against Omicron

Researchers report an overview of antibody neutralization by all currently approved vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron, Beta, and Delta VOCs.

29 Dec 2021

Researchers suggest hybrid convalescent plasma therapy neutralizes the omicron variant

New research suggests convalescent plasma from unvaccinated donors is not effective against the Omicron variant, however, “hybrid” convalescent plasma from donors who recovered from COVID-19 infection and are vaccinated provides considerable antibody protection.

29 Dec 2021

Animal study suggests Omicron is less infectious than previous SARS-CoV-2 strains

A new study suggests the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant is not as infectious as scientists initially assumed.

29 Dec 2021

Study shows fully vaccinated individuals preserve cross-neutralizing memory B-cells against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant

A new study found increases in resting memory B cell subsets showed strong cross-reactivity against several variants, including Omicron.

29 Dec 2021

Study suggests saliva swabs may be more suitable for omicron detection

New study findings reveal that saliva samples are more useful than mid-turbinate samples for the accurate detection of omicron infection.

29 Dec 2021

Impact of an omicron outbreak at a private gathering in the Faroe Islands

New findings suggest that the Omicron variant has potent immune-escape capabilities, putting even newly boosted patients at risk of infection.

29 Dec 2021

3-dose vaccines deemed ultrapotent against diverse and highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and other variants

A new study found that the presence of a subset of antibodies with broad neutralizing activities against all circulating variants of concern in the three-dose vaccines' memory B-derived antibody repertoire suggests that the Omicron/future variants infection may elicit selective and rapid recall of humoral responses, conferring secondary protection directed by memory etched in the immune system.

29 Dec 2021

Exploring immunogenicity and safety after a homologous booster dose of SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike protein vaccine

Research suggests that a single booster dose of NVX-CoV2373 given approximately six months after the primary series induced significant increases in humoral antibodies, while also exhibiting an acceptable safety profile.

29 Dec 2021

Booster dose of mRNA vaccines found crucial in protecting against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants

A new study shows that Omicron is more infectious than any of the other variants and that booster vaccines, especially mRNA vaccines, are capable of neutralizing Omicron variants of pseudoviruses.

29 Dec 2021

Pregnant women should not delay COVID-19 vaccination until late pregnancy, study suggests

COVID-19 vaccination of expectant mothers elicits levels of antibodies to the SARS-CoV-2 outer "spike" protein at the time of delivery that don't vary dramatically with the timing of vaccination during pregnancy and thus don't justify delaying vaccination, according to a study from researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian.

28 Dec 2021

Estimating the epidemic potential of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in South Korea

Researchers in South Korea and France have conducted an analysis on individuals infected with Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to estimate the epidemic potential and long-term prospects of this virus in circulation. They have found that the basic reproduction number (R0) for this variant is 1.90, while the mean serial interval is 2.22 days.

28 Dec 2021

Study demonstrates increased effectiveness of third BNT162b2 dose against SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalization

Researchers assess vaccine effectiveness of two and three doses of BNT162b2 against SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19-related hospital admission.

28 Dec 2021

An evaluation of the association between COVID vaccination and myocarditis in 42 million people aged 13 or older

A new study posted to the medRxiv* pre-print server included individuals over 13 years of age receiving the third vaccine dose to further evaluate the association between myocarditis and COVID-19 vaccination or infection. The study took place from December 1, 2020, to November 15, 2021.

28 Dec 2021

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant neutralized by third BNT162b2 booster shot

A new preprint* research paper under consideration at Nature Portfolio Journal assesses the susceptibility of the Omicron variant to neutralizing antibody response after booster immunization.

28 Dec 2021

Third BNT162b2 dose effectively neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 Omicron pseudovirus

The findings reveal that the Omicron neutralizing titers induced by the third vaccine dose are comparable to that achieved against the original Wuhan strain (wild-type SARS-CoV-2) by the two-dose regimen. The study is currently available on the medRxiv* preprint server while awaiting peer review.

28 Dec 2021

Study suggests spike mutation makes SARS-CoV-2 Omicron milder

The Omicron spike is relatively poorly cleaved and impaired in mediating cell-cell fusion and syncytia formation, contrary to predictions.

28 Dec 2021

Omicron News and Research

Omicron analysis shows no clear evidence for increased virulence or lethality

At least 3 exposures to vaccine or virus needed for minimum protection against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron

MRNA boosters shown to increase protection against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron

BNT162b2 booster restores protection following waning of the 2-dose vaccine

COVID mRNA vaccines show diminished neutralization responses against Omicron

Researchers suggest hybrid convalescent plasma therapy neutralizes the omicron variant

Animal study suggests Omicron is less infectious than previous SARS-CoV-2 strains

Study shows fully vaccinated individuals preserve cross-neutralizing memory B-cells against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant

Study suggests saliva swabs may be more suitable for omicron detection

Impact of an omicron outbreak at a private gathering in the Faroe Islands

3-dose vaccines deemed ultrapotent against diverse and highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and other variants

Exploring immunogenicity and safety after a homologous booster dose of SARS-CoV-2 recombinant spike protein vaccine

Booster dose of mRNA vaccines found crucial in protecting against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants

Pregnant women should not delay COVID-19 vaccination until late pregnancy, study suggests

Estimating the epidemic potential of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in South Korea

Study demonstrates increased effectiveness of third BNT162b2 dose against SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalization

An evaluation of the association between COVID vaccination and myocarditis in 42 million people aged 13 or older

SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant neutralized by third BNT162b2 booster shot

Third BNT162b2 dose effectively neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 Omicron pseudovirus

Study suggests spike mutation makes SARS-CoV-2 Omicron milder

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Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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