"Worry" about the Omicron variant "seems to me a very excessive term".
To say it is Franco Locatelli, coordinator of the Cts and president of the Css a Buongiorno on SkyTG24.
"We know - he adds - that this is a variant that has had an important diffusion in South Africa, the time it took to become predominant is greatly reduced compared to the other variants, there was an increase of almost 260% of cases in that Country: everything supports a greater contagiousness. But we have no evidence that it can cause more serious disease or escape the protective effect of vaccines in an important way ".
Neither underestimate nor dramatize: this is the approach of the CTS coordinator and president of the Higher Health Council,
Locatelli
. "What we know - he specifies - is that the Omicron variant has quickly become predominant in South Africa, where it was isolated after being initially reported in Botswana. We know of a 260% increase in the number of infected people. Both of these findings lead us to speculate. that it is a variant characterized by greater contagiousness.This largely justifies, on the one hand, the measure taken first by Italy and then by other EU countries, namely to close flights from the eight countries in which there is evidence of concentration of these cases. But let's say it clearly: there is no hidden data or that we don't want to reveal that somehow underlies these decisions. Maximum transparency as always ". And on the measure adopted by some countries, such as Japan,of closure of the borders even without even a case of Omicron, Locatelli states: "I would be frankly very cautious in a choice of this type. What has already been decided with absolute timeliness by Minister Speranza seems to me a more appropriate measure, the rest seems to me at this time not supported by the evidence ". Locatelli also adds that the Omicron variant "must be kept under control. We still have to understand even if it is characterized by greater pathogenicity, that is the ability to cause serious disease. It would seem not from the data that come from South Africa, but we also remember that the South African population is decidedly younger than the Italian one. So at this point it must somehow be carefully evaluated and with studies to be conducted rigorously as well as the immunological ones ". "There are several mutations, more than 30 on the Spike protein, but this does not necessarily mean that all will lead to a very significant decline in vaccination efficacy. Something in the effectiveness could be reduced, but it is one more reason to proceed with the administration of the booster doses and for those who are not vaccinated to get immunized. "And he concludes by highlighting the growth in Italy of the first doses.
Vaccinates "are largely protected" compared to the Omicron variant.
"To date, none of the isolated variants, Alpha or Delta, have proven resistant to the effect of vaccines."
So Franco Locatelli.
"There are more than 30 mutations of the Spike protein - he adds - it is possible that the effectiveness of this new variant will be reduced slightly, but immunological studies are needed to be conducted rigorously. The next two weeks will clarify the situation, too. epidemiological studies "and invites you to trust" a rigorous methodological approach "and to get vaccinated.
