Category: Feature Stories

The new variant of the coronavirus, Omicron, is causing concern around the world. Dozens of countries have restricted air travel to southern African countries where this strain was first detected. Science is preparedHowever, fears of a return to the early days of the pandemic with complete lockdowns are exaggerated. Experts know much more about the virus today than they did then and will be better prepared to combat it. Variant of ConcernOn Nov. 26, the World Health Organization declared Omicron a “variant of concern.” The strain carries about 32 spike…

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Precursors of the recently discovered corona variant Omicron are likely to have existed for a very long time, according to their co-discoverer. “According to current knowledge, an early form of Omicron evolved as a separate virus type even before Alpha and Delta emerged,” Wolfgang Preiser of Stellenbosch University near Cape Town told Deutsche Presse-Agentur. He is a member of the research consortium that discovered the variant. This type of virus then probably evolved over many months without attracting attention, the German said. “The question is: Why did Omicron remain hidden…

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According to a new study, it doesn’t matter which vaccine is administered at the 3rd sting – the vaccination works. According to current knowledge, three partial vaccinations are needed for adequate protection against Covid-19. Pretty much no matter what the third vaccination is given with, the effect is good. That’s according to a new study in the United Kingdom of seven vaccines (six of them approved or still in development), which has now been published in the medical journal The Lancet. “Six different Covid 19 boosters are safe and induce…

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Nearly 2.4 million Corona vaccinations were administered in November; the only month with more was June, with 2.6 million. Unlike the first half of the year, however, booster vaccinations are currently dominating the scene.In the Ministry of Health data, 1.6 million third-party vaccinations appear for November. However, almost 427,000 people were vaccinated against the coronavirus for the first time. Vaccination rates in the provincesJust under 67 percent of people in Austria have a valid vaccination certificate – the six million mark is likely to be exceeded here soon. A vaccination…

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Scientific studies have long proven the high protection rates of the Covid-19 vaccine.But for the first time in Austria, AGES epidemiologists have now succeeded in proving the vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing severe disease in daily practice. The Covid-19 vaccine provides about 95 percent protection against hospital admission after SARS-CoV-2 infection, AGES expert Daniela Schmid said Monday night at an online physician education session. According to the Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) infectious disease epidemiologist, it was possible for the first time to link disease, vaccination and hospital data…

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Austrian Virologist Norbert Nowotny assumes that vaccinated people have “very good basic protection” against Omicron.The virologist Norbert Nowotny expects the first laboratory data to show how well the Omicron variant, which has mutated in many places, can escape an immune defense built up by vaccination or disease in the next few days. In an interview with the APA, however, he assumes that vaccinated people have a “very good basic protection” and sees no reason in the new variant with its many question marks not to go for vaccination. The coronavirus…

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The new virus variant Omicron caused a great stir worldwide. The WHO has classified it as “worrying”, it is feared that Omicron is more contagious than Delta. However, it is still unclear which course of the disease it favors and whether the already known vaccines are effective. The fear is that the mutation could have the potential to circumvent the protection of the vaccines currently in use. All major vaccine manufacturers said they immediately began investigating the variant and adapting their vaccines if necessary. Effectiveness of the vaccines against Omicron“At…

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The new coronavirus variant “B.1.1.529” is currently attracting all scientific attention. The variant was first spotted in mid-November in Botswana, where three cases have since been sequenced. Six more have been confirmed in South Africa and one in Hong Kong in a traveler returning from South Africa. Meanwhile, cases have also been reported in Israel and Belgium. While in the rest of South Africa, the Covid 19 pandemic has slowed down considerably in the current spring there, Gauteng province has recently seen a massive increase in new infections: It is…

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Belgium has registered a first case with the new Corona variant B.1.1.529, now got the name Omikron, first detected in southern Africa. The announcement was made by Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke at a press conference Friday. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo also announced travel restrictions for people entering the country from countries in southern Africa. Caution is needed, but not panic, Vandenbroucke said. At the same time, Belgium is reintroducing stricter rules for private parties, in the hospitality industry and nightlife. “The situation today is worse than all…

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