AstraZeneca Developers Question New Wave of Pandemic Due to Omicron Variant

The new strain of coronavirus discovered in South Africa is unlikely to pose a serious threat to vaccinated individuals, stated Andrew Pollard, head of the Oxford vaccine group, as reported by Interfax.

“A new phase of the pandemic among vaccinated individuals is very unlikely,” he said during a broadcast on BBC Radio 4.

“We are optimistic, as vaccines should effectively work and protect against complications related to this variant,” Pollard added. “However, it will take a few weeks to be certain.”

He also announced that if necessary, the development of a new vaccine targeting this strain could be carried out in a short timeframe.

Pollard’s team at the University of Oxford developed the COVID-19 vaccine for AstraZeneca, British media remind us.