Omicron variant less severe compared to first wave in SA: study
The severity of the Covid-19 Omicron variant is 29% lower than what was experienced in the first wave of infections in South Africa.
This is according to data from Discovery Health.
CEO Ryan Noach discussed the findings of a study done by a team the health insurer and researchers from the South Africa Medical Research Council.
"The epidemiological tracking shows a steep trajectory of new infections indicating very rapid spread and this is clearly a highly contagious variant of SARS-CoV-2. What is encouraging at this stage is a flatter trajectory of hospital admissions indicating likely lower severity."
The research was carried out between 15 November to 7 December 2021.
Noach said children seem to be at 20% greater risk of hospitalisation during the Omicron wave.
"It's important though that I say they are experiencing very low test positivity relative to adults and in absolute terms, the admission of children to hospital remains very low and so there is no reason to panic in this regard without question."
The study has also found two shots of the Pfizer vaccine are less effective against the new strain.
"The vaccine effectiveness had reduced from 80 percent in the Delta wave to 33 percent now in this Omicron wave asint Covid-19 infection, quite a material reduction."
But Noach said the Pfizer jab appears to be effective in keeping severe illness at bay.
"But the vaccines were developed to prevent severe illness and death and what is very encouraging is that the vaccine effectiveness of this double dose of Pfizer BioNTech holds at 70% in the Omicron wave against severe complications of Covid-19 which we measure by hospital admissions. So, 70% vaccine effectiveness in mitigation of hospital admissions."
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