More Children Getting Infected By Omicron Variant: WHO Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan

World Health Organization (WHO) Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan said that reinfections caused by the Omicron variant, compared to the Delta variant, are three times more likely to occur.

New Delhi: World Health Organization (WHO) Chief Scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan said Monday that reinfections caused by the Omicron variant, compared to the Delta variant, 90 days after the first infection, are three times more likely to occur.

Dr Swaminathan speaking to CNBC-TV18 said scientists know that the Omicron variant is the dominant strain in South Africa at present, and that it will take time to get enough data about the virulence and transmissibility of the variant. 

"Reinfections 90 days after infection are three times more common in omicron compared to the delta. (These are) early days to decipher the clinical features of omicron infection. We must wait for two to three weeks to study hospitalisation rates to know how severe this disease is," reports quoted her as saying to CNBC-TV18.

She added: “Cases in South Africa are rising fast with omicron variant. Reports show that more children are getting infected by this strain in that country. South Africa is also testing more."

Not Many Covid Vaccines Available For Children: Swaminathan

She noted that not many Covid-19 vaccines are available for children, and only a few countries are vaccinating their children. The absence of vaccines for children may lead to a rise in Covid-19 infections, she warned. 

Quoting her, the reports said, "Not many vaccines available for children and very few countries vaccinating children. Children and the unvaccinated may get more infections when cases rise. We are still waiting for data to conclude omicron variant’s impact on children."

“We need to take a comprehensive and science-based approach to vaccination. It is the same virus we are dealing with and hence measures to protect it will be the same. If we need a variant vaccine, it will depend on how much ‘immune escape’ the variant has," she added.

She said that all countries must study the vaccine data by age and region to assess who have not received their doses. She noted that the “priority should be to vaccinate all those aged above 18 years to reduce transmission".

She said that vaccines continue to provide strong protection against death, as per data from the US.