Its still early but some speculation regarding the effects of MABs and antivirrals on Omicron:
independent.co.uk/news/scie...
**If you hit a paywall just copy the link and put it into a google search, should get round it**
Disappointingly, and in summary, its being theorised that the number and positions of the mutations in Omicron may reduce the efficavcy of MABs, but less so anti-viral treatments.
Too much speculation is going on now. Nobody knows anything for sure but everybody speculates. I've just read that the boss of WHO said that those who have all three shots will be still protected from omicron. Which of course sounds to the anti-vaxers like someone is trying to push the vaccine despite not knowing anything for sure yet. These people should just pull their wits together and keep their mouths shut till something is proven. Else they risk looking like fools in a few weeks. No wonder people are confused if those in positions of authority keep talking and are often times proven wrong. What's wrong with simply telling people,hey we don't know anything yet please be careful.
Perhaps so, and its likely even if the masses, vaccinated or not, may bear omicron well enough its groups such as ourselves which have to be mindful that we are not normal.
Just sharing what should shortly become UK NHS policy, anecdotally its likely some GPs and specialists will be aware of this whilst some will need to be directed to it.
A Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 booster shot appears to provide strong protection against the omicron variant, while the initial two-dose vaccine may be insufficient to prevent infection, the companies announced Wednesday.
Their findings, along with data from separate lab studies, confirm that the new variant is more skilled at sidestepping immune protection provided by existing vaccines than previous strains, but the extent of its abilities to evade the body's defenses remains unclear as further studies are still needed, health experts say. (My emphasis)
Pfizer and BioNTech said laboratory test results show the third dose of their vaccine provides neutralizing antibodies against omicron comparable to those seen against the original coronavirus and other variants after two doses.
I tend to agree with you Leo. Pfizer is telling everyone that three Pfizer jabs protect well against Omicron, while two doesn't. Truth or sales pitch?
It certainly looks like a sales pitch even if it is not. We'll have to wait a few weeks to find out.
Based on lab studies, GSK is talking up the effectiveness of its neutralising monoclonal antibody duo Sotrovimab against Omicron's 30-something mutations in the spike protein reuters.com/business/health...
This is a pre-print on BioRxiv giving details biorxiv.org/content/10.1101...
Sotrovimab was recently approved in the UK as Xevudy, an addition to Ronapreve in the nMAB stakes.
Whatever the manufacturuers say, what counts is how these drugs go in the real world. Time will tell.
I suppose there is money to be made, though its likely many folks will be afforded better protection with the booster. Waning immunity etc etc.
RISK OF DYING OF COVID DURING THIS OMICRON PHASE
Anyone thinking to postpone rituximab doses until Omicron wave is over?
Go to the wedding, or not?
