Vaccines Likely To Have Reduced Effectiveness Against Infections By Omicron: WHO Official

“It will take a few more weeks before there is enough evidence to fully assess vaccines' performance against Omicron,” she added.

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New Delhi: Even as concerns continue unabated, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia, on Friday said the preliminary data suggest that vaccines may likely have reduced effectiveness against infections by the Omicron variant of Covid-19.

“It will take a few more weeks before there is enough evidence to fully assess vaccines' performance against Omicron,” she added.

Asserting that the Omicron variant should not be dismissed as “mild”, the WHO official said: “Even if Omicron does cause less severe disease, the number of cases could once again overwhelm health systems.”

Dr Singh said the Omicron variant, based on current limited evidence, appears to be spreading at the fastest rate not seen with any other previous variant.

“Emerging data from South Africa suggest increased risks of reinfection with Omicron,” she added, ANI reported.

The WHO South-East Asia Regional Director further said the risk of Covid-19 remains high globally and added the emergence of variants is a reminder that the pandemic is far from over.

Earlier in the day, the Central government said that 101 Omicron cases have so far been detected in 11 states in the country.

Addressing a media briefing in the national capital, Union Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Agarwal said that Maharashtra has reported 32 cases of the Omicron variant followed by 22 in Delhi and 17 in Rajasthan.

He further said the number of daily Omicron cases around the world are increasing rapidly particularly in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway and South Africa.

Asserting that people should not let their guard down in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, the Joint Secretary appealed to all to ensure that they receive the vaccine and strictly follow the Covid appropriate behaviour.