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What are the Covid variants and will vaccines still work? What are the Covid variants and will vaccines still work?
(7 days later)
A new heavily mutated version of coronavirus has been found that scientists say is of "great concern". A new type of coronavirus has been found that scientists say is of "great concern".
One of most pressing questions is will vaccines still work? The Omicron variant worries experts because it is very different to the types of Covid current vaccines are designed to fight.
What is this new variant?What is this new variant?
There are thousands of different types, or variants, of Covid circulating across the world. That's to be expected because viruses mutate all the time. Omicron was first identified in South Africa, but cases have been now been found in many other countries, including the UK.
But this new variant, called B.1.1.529 or Omicron, has experts particularly worried because it is very different to the original Covid, which current vaccines were designed to fight. A variant is a slightly altered - or mutated - version of a virus. There are thousands of Covid variants around the world which is to be expected because viruses mutate all the time.
It has a long list of genetic changes - 50 in all. Of these, 32 are in the spike protein of the virus - the part which is the target of vaccines. Omicron is strikingly different from many other types of Covid currently in circulation due to the long list of genetic mutations it has undergone.
However, it is too soon to know how much of a threat it poses. In particular, there are dozens of changes to the part of the virus targeted by the vaccine - the spike protein.
What do we know about this new variant?What do we know about this new variant?
Will vaccines still work? Will vaccines still work against this variant?
Current vaccines are not an ideal match so might not work quite as well, say experts. Early signs are that current vaccines might not work quite as well against Omicron.
But that doesn't mean they'll offer zero protection. Scientists in South Africa have detected a surge in the number of people catching Covid multiple times.
Remember, vaccines are still very effective at protecting lives by cutting the risk of severe illness against other major Covid variants, including Delta, Alpha, Beta and Gamma. This suggests the variant might be better at sidestepping some of the protection offered by vaccines or past infection.
However, this is still not definitive proof, and even if Omicron is more infectious, there is no evidence as yet that it causes more serious illness.
As with other Covid variants, the risk remains highest for people who are elderly or have significant underlying health conditions.
But even so, if a variant is more infectious it will lead to more deaths in an unvaccinated population.
How is the UK preparing for Omicron?
Although current vaccines may not be a perfect fit for Omicron they are still the best line of defence against Covid.
They have cut the risk of severe illness against the other major Covid variants, including Delta, Alpha, Beta and Gamma.
Doctors say it is vital people get the recommended number of doses to gain maximum protection against existing and emerging variants.Doctors say it is vital people get the recommended number of doses to gain maximum protection against existing and emerging variants.
In the UK, booster jabs are recommended for: The government is ramping up its vaccination programme in response to Omicron, and hopes to offer every adult in the UK a booster jab by the end of January.
Over-18s Although Covid infections have been rising, the number of hospitalisations and deaths has remained well below the levels seen in earlier waves. Experts say this is because of the success of the vaccine programme.
Frontline health and social care workers When can I get my booster and how do I book it?
Older adults in residential care homes
People aged 16-49 years old with underlying health conditions which put them at greater risk of severe Covid
Adults who share a household with vulnerable people
More than 16m booster or third doses have been given so far in the UK.
Although Covid infections have been rising again across the UK, the number of hospitalisations and deaths has remained well below the levels seen in earlier waves. Experts say this is because of the success of the vaccine programme.
Scientists will be running lots of tests to check if the vaccines will hold up against this latest variant.
It is early days, but experts will study potentially important mutations that might make it more infectious and able to sidestep some of the protection given by vaccines.
And they will assess if it is causing more serious disease than other variants.
How many people have been vaccinated so far?How many people have been vaccinated so far?
How quickly could we get new vaccines against variants?How quickly could we get new vaccines against variants?
Updated versions of vaccines against Covid variants are already being designed and tested, in case they are needed at some point. Updated versions of vaccines against Covid variants are already being designed and tested.
Should that time arrive, a new vaccine could be ready within weeks, to run checks on.
Manufacturers could scale up production quickly too and regulators have already discussed how to fast track the approval process.Manufacturers could scale up production quickly too and regulators have already discussed how to fast track the approval process.
No corners would be cut, but the whole process - from design to approval - could be much faster than when Covid vaccines were first launched. Moderna has already said it hopes to have an Omicron booster ready by March.
What about the other variants?What about the other variants?
Officials have a close watch on a few. The most potentially dangerous ones are called variants of concern and, along with Omicron, include:
The most potentially dangerous ones are called variants of concern and include:
Delta (B.1.617.2), first identified in India and now the most common type circulating in the UKDelta (B.1.617.2), first identified in India and now the most common type circulating in the UK
Alpha (B.1.1.7), first identified in the UK but which spread to more than 50 countriesAlpha (B.1.1.7), first identified in the UK but which spread to more than 50 countries
Beta (B.1.351), first identified in South Africa but which has been detected in at least 20 other countries, including the UKBeta (B.1.351), first identified in South Africa but which has been detected in at least 20 other countries, including the UK
Gamma (P.1), first identified in Brazil but which has spread to more than 10 other countries, including the UKGamma (P.1), first identified in Brazil but which has spread to more than 10 other countries, including the UK
UK officials are also keeping an eye on a recent descendent of the Delta variant, called AY.4.2 or "Delta plus".UK officials are also keeping an eye on a recent descendent of the Delta variant, called AY.4.2 or "Delta plus".
How dangerous are variants? Why do variants occur?
There is no evidence that any of them cause more serious illness for the vast majority of people. Viruses make carbon copies of themselves to reproduce but they aren't perfect at it. Errors can creep in that change the genetic blueprint, resulting in a new version of the virus - in other words, a variant.
As with original Covid, the risk remains highest for people who are elderly or have significant underlying health conditions.
But even so, if a variant is more infectious it will lead to more deaths in an unvaccinated population.
Vaccines offer high protection against severe illness with Covid-19, including infections caused by variants of concern. The shots also reduce the risk of infection. But they do not completely eliminate all risk.
The advice to avoid infection remains the same for all strains: wash your hands, keep your distance, wear a face covering in crowded places and be vigilant about ventilation.
How many cases are there in the UK?
Why has the Delta variant spread so quickly in UK?
Why are variants occurring?
Viruses make carbon copies of themselves to reproduce but they aren't perfect at it. Errors can creep in that change the genetic blueprint, resulting in a new version or variant.
If this gives the virus a survival advantage, the new version will thrive.If this gives the virus a survival advantage, the new version will thrive.
The more chances coronavirus has to make copies of itself in us - the host - the more opportunities there are for mutations to occur.The more chances coronavirus has to make copies of itself in us - the host - the more opportunities there are for mutations to occur.
That's why keeping infections down is important. Vaccines help by cutting transmission as well as protecting against serious Covid illness.That's why keeping infections down is important. Vaccines help by cutting transmission as well as protecting against serious Covid illness.
Experts say it is possible that the new highly altered variant B.1.1.529 may have originated in a patient whose immune system was unable to get rid of a Covid infection quickly, giving the virus more time to morph.Experts say it is possible that the new highly altered variant B.1.1.529 may have originated in a patient whose immune system was unable to get rid of a Covid infection quickly, giving the virus more time to morph.