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

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

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

While the original Omicron version was named BA.1, it is clear that the new mutant strain has been updated several generations of variants of the original version. According to the US CDC data, the transmission speed of the variant BA.2 is already higher than that of BA.1, while the newly evolved BA.2.12.1 is 30% more contagious than BA.2.

At present, this variant is spreading most strongly in New York State, where it was first discovered. In New York State, 80.6% of positive cases of COVID-19 belong to BA.2.12.1.

For this situation, some netizens call it the "Human Clearance Plan" . Three years into the pandemic, 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 Strategy under the Background of the Global COVID-19 Pneumonia Pneumonia Epidemic", " In the challenge of Omicron, we feel unprecedented challenges ."

Why did Omicron evolve so many mutant strains?

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 try to integrate into the host and the environment through their own changes .

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

As a highly differentiated mutant strain, Omicron mutations mainly occur in the spike protein region.

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

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 characteristic may bring a new perspective to the current epidemic prevention strategy.

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

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

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

In other words, after vaccination, infection with Omicron is equivalent to a booster 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 people being infected, but it has also become a "breakthrough point" to end the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

Zhang Wenhong said, "If you don't build an immune barrier for vulnerable groups, you won't be able to cope with a very severe future."

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

For people over 60 years old in Shanghai, the vaccination rate 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 themselves have weak immunity , which means that once the virus is infected, the incidence of autoimmunity increases and inflammation is more prone to occur. Moreover, most of the elderly have basic diseases. After being infected with the virus, the original diseases will be more serious, and even complications will appear.

Therefore, establishing a good immune barrier for vulnerable groups is the key to fighting the epidemic. In order to establish a "barrier", aggravating 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%, the case fatality rate for two-dose vaccine is 0.59%, and three-dose vaccine 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 illness and death prevention.

What needs to be reminded is that the elderly should pay attention to vaccination. If they have underlying diseases, it is recommended to consult a doctor before vaccination to evaluate whether they can be vaccinated; after vaccination, they should stay for 30 minutes. It is recommended to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Finally, Zhang Wenhong also mentioned that we cannot keep vaccinating against COVID-19 for the rest of our lives. The virus is constantly changing. If there is no mutation, we have to re-develop the vaccine. This is something that no one wants to accept.

In the future, we will continue to open up non-drug interventions, and it may still require new detection methods and new vaccine applications for a long period of 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 Strain Lands in Asia! Evolved from Omicron, 30% more contagious." British newspaper sister. 2022-05-11

[2] "How is the current epidemic situation?" What should be paid attention to when carrying out large-scale nucleic acid testing? How effective are vaccinations in protecting older adults? How to achieve "four mornings" in community prevention and control... Here comes the authoritative answer! ". Healthy China. 2022-05-13

[3] "Shanghai City's Social Areas Cleared! Zhang Wenhong: Protection of Vulnerable Groups in the COVID-19 Epidemic. Health Circle. 2022-05-17

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