Filenews 17 December 2021 - by Marilena Panagi
Vaccination alone is not enough, says the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and warns of a difficult winter with a possible increase in hospitalizations and deaths in Europe. In a report released on Wednesday, the European Centre underscore the need for "strong and urgent" action, referring to "very tight time limits" and noting that from the preliminary findings, the vaccines currently administered in the EU show reduced efficacy against the mutated strain "Omikron".
In fact, in its report, the ECDC claims that several re-infections and chains of transmission have been identified between people who had received all three doses of the coronavirus vaccine.
In detail and according to what is recorded in the relevant report:
> There is a need for "strong and urgent action."
> The probability of further spread of the "Omikron" variant in the EU is assessed as very high.
> Time limits are tight and vaccination alone is not enough to limit the rise of "Omikron", but measures are needed such as reducing contacts, avoiding large public or private gatherings, wearing masks, teleworking, extensive testing and contact tracing of cases.
> Information and recommendation to citizens to avoid gatherings and Self-Test before family gatherings during the festive days.
> Testing all people who show symptoms regardless of vaccination history.
According to the ECDC "the prognostic models show that a reduction in contacts is needed to limit the spread and avoid an increase in mortality" and warns that "without a reduction in contacts and a strengthening of vaccinations with a third dose, transmission levels could weigh heavily on Europe's health systems".
Further and as the ECDC predicts, "based on mathematical models, the 'Omikron' mutation will probably dominate the European space in early 2022, displacing the hither-dominant variant 'Delta', setting a time horizon for the next two months.
It underlines that "an increasing number of cases ares being recorded within the EU, which indicates that there is transmission in the community", clarifying that "the data is currently very limited to assess how severe the symptoms are that "Omikron" causes, but the increased transmissibility and the resulting exponential increase in cases are considered very likely to cause additional hospitalizations and deaths, in addition to those already expected in previous forecasts which took into account only the Delta mutation.'
As far as vaccines are concerned, the ECDC says in its report that preliminary data show "a reduced ability to neutralise 'Omikron' compared to other variants, with the data available so far, however, not being considered sufficient".
However, as he points out, "based on the available data, for serious cases related to both the "Delta" and possibly the "Omikron", the booster doses (i.e. 3rd dose), increase the protection in terms of serious illness, hospitalization and death, while noting that "infections of people who were previously infected with other strains of the virus have been infected again. Also, there are reports of chains of transmission with the 'Omikron' mutation in people who were fully vaccinated and had received the third dose of the vaccine, as well as reports of people who had received the two initial doses of the coronavirus vaccine."
In its recommendations, ECDC includes the need to strengthen and properly prepare health systems and health professionals with all the necessary medical equipment, while at the same time it warns of the possibility of coexistence of the coronavirus with the flu. "In addition to the coronavirus, other respiratory infections and the flu are likely to place a greater burden on health systems," the report said.
Finally, ECDC stresses the need to carry out checks on all people who present symptoms, regardless of vaccination history, and recommends flexibility in the testing programs carried out by member states on their citizens, in order to identify and isolate all positive cases in a timely manner.
Measures needed ahead of Christmas
"The overall level of risk to public health, related to the further emergence and spread of the 'Omikron' mutation in EU countries," the ECDC says, based on the limited data currently available, is "assessed as very high", which is why the ECDC stresses the need for non-pharmaceutical measures (i.e. beyond vaccinations) to stem the now given spread of the mutated strain among European citizens during the Christmas duration.
"It is imperative to make an effort to reduce the spread and infections during the festive season through social distancing, the reduction of family gatherings during the festive days and the implementation of all known protection measures." In addition, it is recommended "to strengthen laboratory tests carried out on the population" and encourage the use of Self-Tests by citizens prior to family or other gatherings."
SafePass and exceptions
Based on the covid-19 pandemic containment measure for mandatory SafePass possession control through the CovScan Cyprus application for the entry of citizens in places of controlled attendance, the Council of Ministers approved on December 13th a proposal of the Ministry of Health to exempt the acquisition of a European Digital Certificate for a category of citizens.
The exception concerns people who are proven for medical reasons, based on scientific knowledge and criteria for non-vaccination, and following a decision of the Medical Council, it is not recommended to be vaccinated.
Citizens who fall under the above category must apply by filling in the relevant form appropriately and send it to the e-mail address vacexceptcertification@mphs.moh.gov.cy, attaching all the necessary documents mentioned therein.
It is noted that it is necessary to produce an opinion from a medical officer on the medical reason invoked by the specialty applicant. This procedure has already been in place since August 2021 to issue an exceptional certificate of exemption for the possibility of a free antigen rapid test for COVID-19 to a person who for medical reasons is not recommended to be vaccinated.
It is emphasized that people who ensure the mentioned exemption should present the special card issued to them by the Ministry of Health, and at the same time the negative result of a rapid laboratory test or PCR test that will be carried out on a weekly basis. Rapid antigen tests at the sampling points of the Ministry of Health and PCR test at the Public Health Clinics after arranging an appointment through the Coordination of Public Health Clinics, at the 22523462 telephone, daily from 8:00 to 13:00, will be provided free of charge.
Warnings from America too
Warning of the rapid spread of the "Omikron" mutation by the competent Body of America. The CDC argues in its latest report that the mutation is "spreading rapidly in the United States and could have peaked in January, causing a huge wave of infections."
The prevalence of the "Omikron" mutation has "multiplied sevenfold in a week," according to the CDC, "and at this rate, the new strain could increase the pressure on a health system that has already been overworked on many levels by the 'Delta' variant.
The worst-case scenario, according to the CDC, "has scared top health officials, who fear that a new wave will be added to the cases of 'Delta' and influenza, causing a 'triple blow' that could burden health systems."
However, according to the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Anthony Fauci, there is still no need for a booster dose specifically targeting the "Omikron" variant.
