Booster reduces Omicron death risk 95 percent as scientists find new version of variant

*Researchers have yet discovered a ‘sub-variant’ of the COVID-19 Omicron variant called ‘BA.2’

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Earlier research work has shown that there is a lower risk of death from the Omicron variant of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) for most people.

However, a fresh study discovered that getting a vaccine booster reduced the risk even more.

It was learnt the study conducted by scientists in the United Kingdom (UK), specifically, examined how older consumers fared against the Omicron variant of the virus.

The study findings indicated that three shots of an mRNA vaccine in consumers aged 50 and older reduced the risk of death by 95 percent.

The findings, according to researchers, are important because the Omicron variant tends to be less vulnerable to the immunity created by vaccines.

The experts, nonetheless, opined the booster restores enough of those defences to cut the risk of serious illness, especially in the older population.

Researchers identify new Omicron variant

Can a COVID-19 variant have its own variant? Apparently so, experts said.

Researchers yet have discovered a “sub-variant” of Omicron they call BA.2.

Duke University infectious diseases expert Cameron Wolfe told NBC News that “you could say they’re like brothers in the same family.

“There are some subtle differences, but most of the genetics are the same in both.”

But scientists do not yet know much about BA.2, or how it behaves.

Accordingly, they say the newly-discovered ‘sub-variant’ has many of Omicron’s characteristics, such as high transmission levels and milder symptoms, report stated.

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