The omicron
coronavirus variant which has emerged as a major headache for scientists and
vaccine developers worldwide may elude some immunity but not all, according to
data coming in from South Africa, where the variant was first detected and
reported on November 24. In South Africa, the omicron variant is fast
outrunning the Delta variant to become the dominant variant.

First found in
South Africa’s populous Gauteng province, the omicron variant has now spread to
five out of the country’s nine provinces, according to government reports
Wednesday. The country has seen daily cases double. South Africa reported 8,561
COVID-19 cases on Wednesday.

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According to South
Africa’s National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), omicron accounts
for 74% of the 249 virus genomes sequenced in South Africa this month. NICD is
collecting data as part of a wider national network to carry out genomic
surveillance.

The exact number
of omicron variant infections has not been released by South Africa as the
country conducts only a limited amount of genome sequencing on a small portion
of samples collected every week.

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According to the
NICD, the mutation profile and the epidemiological picture suggests that
omicron will be able to get around some immune protection but the protection
against severe death and disease should be less effected.

The NICD’s
observance has come as a major relief for scientists. Many scientists have been
of the view that the highly-mutative new coronavirus variant may be able to
elude vaccine protection. Moderna, one of the US-based pharmaceutical firms
making COVID-19 vaccines, has already said that its current vaccine may not
protect against omicron and the firm is gearing up to have a tailored vaccine
ready by January.

The European Medicines
Agency (EMA), the drug regulator for the European Union, has also said that is was
ready to grant approvals for vaccines tailored to fight omicron after vaccine
makers adapted their formulations.