Thread by @vass_vassiliou

A thread 🧵 on #omicron #covid #mask #vaccines Almost 2 years since the initial Covid concerns, what we’ve had is governments across the world being reactive (and slowly) not pro-active. So why is this #omicron different, and what is the concern? @DrMarthaGulati @mmamas1973 /2

Multiple mutations have happened- we didn’t get from #delta to #omicron overnight, the other variant were monitored, but not alarming… and scientists kept observing… but not shouting out- now they are, time to be listened, and here are the concerns @AnastasiaSMihai @iamritu /3

#omicron has 32 mutations in its spike protein. These include E484A, K417N and N440K, which are might the virus to escape detection from antibodies… and herein lies the question… WILL THE VACCINES WORK? WILL NATURAL IMMUNITY WORK? @N_Dietis @LynnGreigMiller /4

The worry about less efficacy of vaccines is that they rely on the spike protein produced, to trigger an immune response… but if the #omicron spike protein is mutated and different- the immune response might not be specific and hence less effective @GARCIAEDINSON95 @ShrillaB /5

The same concerns holds true about natural immunity post Covid- so if you were infected with Alpha or Delta it seems that in theory it will be more easy to be reinfected - in theory, waiting to see if this is the case in practice - but it is of concerns /6 @Abraham_RMI @BenSaaud

And this is because all the optimistic modeling relied on people who were infected (>50% school age children in 🇬🇧) not to be reinfected- is the clock is reset to 0, we have a huge problem - hospitals will be packed again like when Delta took over. /7 @bes502 @HiteshiKc @Hragy

So we know that #omicron is more transmissible - meaning you can catch it more easily likely even if you are in the same room with another person for a minute or two- unlike Delta which need led more time. Even 30s to drink water might suffice - bad news here /8 @FiddyRobert

What we don’t know is if it is associated with worse outcome… it’s all speculations here and 1 of 3 scenario will happen- 1 as bad as Delta, 2 worse than Delta, 3 less of a killer than Delta. Unless it is scenario 3 we will see more hospitalizations and deaths /9 @ShivaniM_KC

The new mutations raise concerns that it will have a killing effect than Delta (unconfirmed) might evade vaccines and natural@immunity (unconfirmed) and is more transmissible (seen already)… so is this all gloomy? 😞 possibly not /10 @purviparwani @ChristosArgyrop @EkateriniL

What we still do not know is whether it can push away the dusting variant (which is Delta) in most countries… if it does then we will have a few tough weeks… we have to assume that omicron is already in the whole@of Europe and America… and will spread quickly /11 @HanCardiomd

Vaccines companies saying they can readjust the vaccines within 100 days is of concerns, as it would suggest that they are worried. Is this a lost hope? NO - no matter what happens vaccination and natural immunity will@provide some degree of immunity even against #omicron /12

But this needs to be taken seriously & governments act fast- #maskwearing #vaccination #booster #handwashing #workingfromhome #restrictions #travelmomitoring can all help- we shouldn’t wait for a government to enforce things (will be too late) we should be starting now GOOD LUCK!

And just an add on- I think the booster time should come down to 4 months in 🇬🇧 and we should donate surplus of vaccines to poorer nations - there is enough supply to allow for both!

Glad and relived the UK committee today recommended boosters for everyone over the age of 18, and at 3 months following their second dose