COVID-19 pandemic not over, says expert, on Omicron emergence

Virus can keep acquiring mutations that may be more or less detrimental, says G. Padmanaban of BIRAC

In the wake of the emergence of , persons with co-morbidities and the older age group need to be monitored and, in general, the vaccination of children is the next agenda and India should plan for a booster vaccine dose in the second half of 2022, although two-dose vaccination of the target population is still the priority, said Professor G. Padmanaban (IISc, Bengaluru), senior science innovation adviser, Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC), Department of Biotechnology, in an interview.

A Variant of Interest (VOI) is one that carries specific genetic markers (mutations/deletions) that are predicted to affect transmission, diagnostics, therapeutics or immune escape. A Variant of Concern (VOC) is a VOI that, in addition, is demonstrated to be associated with one or more of public health concerns, including an increase in transmissibility or a detrimental change in epidemiology, increase in virulence or change in clinical disease presentation or decrease in effectiveness of public health and social measures or available diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics.