Zhang Wenhong: Omicron is an unprecedented challenge! What is the hope for ending the COVID-19 pandemic?

The COVID-19 variant strain Omicron has a super fast transmission speed. Since it was detected, it has grown rapidly with its absolute advantage in just a few tens of days.

According to relevant reports, in mid-March 2022, the New York State test found that the subspecies variant BA.2.12.1 of Omicron.

While the original Omicron version was named BA.1, it is clear that the new variant has been updated for several generations of the original version. According to CDC data in the United States, the spread of the variant BA.2 has been higher than that of BA.1, while the newly evolved BA.2.12.1 is 30% more infectious than BA.2.

This variant is currently spreading most strongly in New York State, where it was first detected, where 80.6% of positive COVID-19 cases fall under BA.2.12.1.

For this situation, some netizens call it the "Human Removal Plan" . It's been three years since the outbreak lasted, where is the hope for ending the COVID-19 pandemic?

1. Zhang Wenhong: Omicron is an unprecedented challenge

Professor Zhang Wenhong mentioned in his speech "Implementation of China's Prevention and Control Strategies in the Background of the Global Epidemic of COVID-19 Pneumonia", " We feel an unprecedented challenge in the challenge of Omicron ."

Why did Omicron evolve so many mutants?

WHO experts explained that the genetic diversification of Omicron shows that the COVID-19 virus continues to face natural selection pressure, and the mutant strains attempt to integrate into the host and the environment through their own changes .

Relevant studies have shown that although Omicron is less virulent than the delta strain, it not only spreads quickly, but also has significant immune evasion capabilities . This allows it to easily escape the humoral immune barrier established by vaccines, or previous infection with other variants of the COVID-19 virus.

As a highly differentiated mutant strain, Omicron mutation mainly occurs in the spike protein region.

For vaccines and drugs, their important antibodies are also attached to the site of the COVID-19 virus spike protein. The virus mutates rapidly, and the update speed of vaccines cannot catch up, which is not a good thing for vaccine and drug development.

2. Nature: Omicron may accelerate the end of the COVID-19 epidemic

Although Omicron is "cunning and changeable", its virulence is obviously inferior to that of the original strain . This feature may bring a new perspective to the current epidemic prevention strategy.

On May 16, "Nature" published a blockbuster study. By analyzing humanized mice and hamsters infected with live virus, researchers finally found that the virulence of Omicron BA.2 was weaker than that of the original virus. strains .

On the 18th, "Nature" published a study again, confirming that the toxicity of Omicron is low.

It is worth noting that the study also found that in the vaccinated population, breakthrough infections of Omicron and Delta can enhance the immunity induced by the vaccine , thereby triggering a new "mixed immunity".

That is to say, after being vaccinated, infection with Omicron is equivalent to boosting the vaccination again. Such results may provide ideas for designing cross-type multivalent vaccines.

For humans, the "evolution" of Omicron may lead to more and more infections, but it has also become a "breakpoint" to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. It is very important to establish an immune barrier for vulnerable groups

Zhang Wenhong said, "If we don't build an immune barrier for vulnerable people, we can't deal with a very severe future."

The epidemic in Shanghai is severe, and the elderly are the most vulnerable group.

The vaccination rate of people over 60 years old in Shanghai is only 38% . Among the deaths, the vaccination rate was as low as 4.97%, and most of them had underlying diseases or were very old.

Why are older people more prone to severe illness and death?

The elderly have weaker immunity , which means that once the virus is infected, the incidence of autoimmunity increases and inflammation is more likely to occur. Moreover, most of the elderly have underlying diseases. After infection with the virus, the existing diseases will become more serious, and even comorbidities will appear.

Therefore, establishing an immune barrier for vulnerable groups is the key to fighting the epidemic. To establish a "barrier", increasing vaccination is an important way .

According to the information released by the Hong Kong Department of Health on May 5, the case fatality rate among unvaccinated elderly people aged 70-79 in Hong Kong is 5.55%, and the case fatality rate for two-dose vaccination is 0.59% . The case fatality rate is 0.16% .

It can be seen from the data that full vaccination has a positive impact on the protection of severe disease and death prevention.

It should be reminded that the elderly should pay attention to the vaccination. If there is an underlying disease, it is recommended to consult a doctor before vaccination to evaluate whether it can be vaccinated. After vaccination, they should be observed for 30 minutes. If discomfort occurs and lasts for a long time, It is recommended to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Finally, Zhang Wenhong also mentioned that we can't keep playing the COVID-19 vaccine all our lives . The virus is constantly changing. If we can't mutate, we have to re-develop the vaccine. This is something that everyone is unwilling to accept.

In the future, we will continue to open up non-drug interventions, and there may still be a need for new detection methods and new vaccine applications for a long time. There may be some ups and downs in the process, but I believe that we will eventually get out of the epidemic.

References:

[1] "Super mutant COVID-19 strains land in Asia! Evolved from Omicron, the infectious power is 30% higher". British newspaper sister. 2022-05-11

[2] "What is the current situation of the epidemic? What should be paid attention to when conducting large-scale nucleic acid testing? How effective is vaccination in older adults? How to achieve "four mornings" in community prevention and control... The authoritative answer is here! 》.Healthy China.2022-05-13

[3] "The whole city of Shanghai's society is cleared! Zhang Wenhong: Protection of Vulnerable Populations in the COVID-19 Epidemic". Health Industry. 2022-05-17

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