Facts About the Dominant Omicron Subvariants
Let us tackle this issue about the dominant Omicron subvariants which is causing Coronavirus disease (Covid).
It has been announced that in the United States, the Omicron subvariant BA.4 and BA.5 are the dominant subvariants causing Covid infections.
These subvariants were formed due to the mutation of their spike protein, making them the most infectious SARSCOV2 virus to date.
According to data, these two Omicron subvariants are 4 times more resistant to mRNA vaccines, such as the ones made by Pfizer and Moderna, compared to the original Omicron variant.
Although the BA.4 and BA.5 are relatively resistant to the mRNA vaccines, these mRNA vaccines can still protect you from getting severe and critical Covid disease and keeps you out of the hospital.
According to studies, severe illness is common among elderly and with underlying comorbidities especially those who are unvaccinated.
Another subvariant of Omicron that is gaining traction in India is the BA2.75.
The BA2.75 is even more contagious than the BA.5 and is competing with
BA.5 in United States. It is unclear whether this super contagious subvariant causes more serious disease. For now, scientists are still studying this new BA2.75 subvariant.
As the new subvariant are popping up and are becoming more contagious, I urge the public to wear a well fitted mask that offer better protection like N95 and KN95 not surgical mask and definitely not a cloth mask.
We have to remember that no subvariant is resistant to mask, so wear the mask when needed.