Omicron News and Research

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Simple measures in the health care setting could prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission

In early 2020, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a highly contagious and pathogenic virus, made its alarming debut and quickly spread worldwide, causing the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that threatened human health and public safety.

16 Jan 2024

mRNA COVID-19 vaccines highly effective in preventing hospitalizations among adolescents in Nordic study

Study evaluated the effectiveness of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines (BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, and heterologous schedules) in preventing hospitalization among adolescents in Nordic countries, finding high protection rates of 73% to 86% at six months.

14 Jan 2024

Paxlovid treatment in 20% of COVID-19 patients could avert 850,000 hospitalizations, save up to $170 billion

A study in the Emerging Infectious Diseases journal shows treating 20% of COVID-19 patients with Paxlovid could save up to 0.85 million lives and reduce the economic burden by US $170.17 billion in the US.

14 Jan 2024

JN.1 variant's spread not due to enhanced immune escape, study suggests

Study finds the JN.1 variant of SARS-CoV-2 may not have increased immune escape ability compared to its predecessor BA.2.86, suggesting other factors for its rapid spread.

14 Jan 2024

Study shows lasting T-cell immunity in healthcare workers against SARS-CoV-2 variants

Study reveals robust memory T-cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers over 1.5 years post-Omicron, suggesting durable immunity against highly mutated variants.

11 Jan 2024

BNT162b2 vaccine effectiveness in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe disease

The BNT162b2 vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

11 Jan 2024

Study shows engineered antibodies significantly boost Omicron neutralization

Researchers engineered IgA antibodies from IgG monoclonals, enhancing neutralization against Omicron by up to 75-fold and offering protection in mice models.

10 Jan 2024

Nasal drops with IgA antibodies may protect against COVID-19 and future variants

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have shown that nasal drops with IgA antibodies can protect mice from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

10 Jan 2024

New Omicron subvariants test vaccine limits, reveal unique infection challenges

Study reveals that the Omicron subvariants BA.2.86 and FLip show unique mutations and infectivity profiles, with BA.2.86 being highly infectious and resistant to most conventional antibodies, underscoring the need for updated vaccines.

9 Jan 2024

New study sheds light on the biological properties of new COVID variant Pirola

Despite the end of the pandemic, COVID-19 continues to pose a serious health threat. Most individuals have established robust immune protection and do not develop severe disease but the infection can still lead to marked and sometimes long-lasting disease symptoms.

9 Jan 2024

Real-world study tracks vaccine's power to protect kids from Delta and Omicron variants

Children and adolescents who received one of the main COVID-19 vaccines were significantly protected from the illness and showed no increased signs of cardiac complications compared to young people who were not vaccinated, according to a new real-world study led by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

9 Jan 2024

Nirmatrelvir treatment shows no link to reduced long-COVID risk, study reveals

Recent study reveals nirmatrelvir treatment during acute COVID-19 does not lower the risk of post-acute COVID-19 symptoms, nor is it associated with symptomatic rebound.

8 Jan 2024

SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 shows increased lung targeting despite vaccine effectiveness

New research shows that the recently emerged BA.2.86 omicron subvariant of the virus that causes COVID-19 can be neutralized by bivalent mRNA vaccine-induced antibodies in the blood, which explains why this variant did not cause a widespread surge as previously feared.

8 Jan 2024

There’s a new covid-19 variant and cases are ticking up. What do you need to know?

It's winter, that cozy season that brings crackling fireplaces, indoor gatherings — and a wave of respiratory illness.

8 Jan 2024

Inpatient costs of treating COVID-19 in the U.S.

Study analyzes the average inpatient care costs for COVID-19 patients, revealing significant variations in expenses across pandemic waves and patient demographics.

7 Jan 2024

Factors that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 in children

Study analyzes a nationwide cohort of hospitalized children and adolescents in Germany, identifying key risk factors for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, including obesity, Trisomy 21, and neurological conditions.

3 Jan 2024

Are pan-coronavirus vaccines an achievable goal in providing broad protection against human coronaviruses?

The current achievements in the development of a pan-coronavirus vaccine.

3 Jan 2024

Hybrid immunity's role in curbing COVID-19: Canadian study sheds light on vaccine-infection synergy

Study evaluates the impact of hybrid immunity on SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in Canadian adults, revealing that hybrid immunity, combining vaccination and recovery from infection, significantly reduces COVID-19 morbidity and mortality.

2 Jan 2024

New Year's Eve celebrations linked to spike in COVID-19 cases: Small gatherings, not large events, the main culprit

Study investigates the impact of New Year's Eve celebrations on SARS-CoV-2 transmission in Belgium, revealing that small-scale social gatherings, rather than large events, significantly contributed to a surge in COVID-19 cases among higher education students.

18 Dec 2023

COVID-19 hospitalization linked to greater long-term health risks than seasonal influenza

Study reveals that hospitalized COVID-19 patients face higher long-term risks of death and health adversities across multiple organ systems compared to those hospitalized with seasonal influenza.

18 Dec 2023

Omicron News and Research

Simple measures in the health care setting could prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission

mRNA COVID-19 vaccines highly effective in preventing hospitalizations among adolescents in Nordic study

Paxlovid treatment in 20% of COVID-19 patients could avert 850,000 hospitalizations, save up to $170 billion

JN.1 variant's spread not due to enhanced immune escape, study suggests

Study shows lasting T-cell immunity in healthcare workers against SARS-CoV-2 variants

BNT162b2 vaccine effectiveness in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe disease

Study shows engineered antibodies significantly boost Omicron neutralization

Nasal drops with IgA antibodies may protect against COVID-19 and future variants

New Omicron subvariants test vaccine limits, reveal unique infection challenges

New study sheds light on the biological properties of new COVID variant Pirola

Real-world study tracks vaccine's power to protect kids from Delta and Omicron variants

Nirmatrelvir treatment shows no link to reduced long-COVID risk, study reveals

SARS-CoV-2 BA.2.86 shows increased lung targeting despite vaccine effectiveness

There’s a new covid-19 variant and cases are ticking up. What do you need to know?

Inpatient costs of treating COVID-19 in the U.S.

Factors that increase the risk of severe COVID-19 in children

Are pan-coronavirus vaccines an achievable goal in providing broad protection against human coronaviruses?

Hybrid immunity's role in curbing COVID-19: Canadian study sheds light on vaccine-infection synergy

New Year's Eve celebrations linked to spike in COVID-19 cases: Small gatherings, not large events, the main culprit

COVID-19 hospitalization linked to greater long-term health risks than seasonal influenza

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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