This document discusses the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. It was first identified in November 2021 in Botswana and South Africa and designated a variant of concern by the WHO. The variant has many mutations, some of concern regarding transmissibility and vaccine resistance. It's not yet clear if Omicron causes more severe disease or how effective current vaccines are against it. Surveillance efforts are ongoing to understand the impacts and risks of this new variant.

2. Introduction
 The SARS- Cov-2 omicron variant is a variant of SARS
cov-2 virus that causes covid-19.
 The variant was first reported in Botswana in south
Africa on 24th November 2021.
 On 26th November 2021, The WHO designated it as a
variant of concern and named it after omicron
(B1.1.529), the fifteenth letter in the Greek alphabet.

3. Variant of concern vs. Variant of interest
 The WHO classified Covid 19 into two main categories
1. Variant of concern
2. Variant of interest
1. The variant of interest are those variants that affects
characteristics of the virus such as disease severity,
immune escape and transmissibility. Currently there
are 2 variants of interest according to WHO.
1. lambda( Discovered in Peru in December 2020)
2. Mu( Discovered in Columbia in January 2021)

4. CONTD
2. Variants of Concern:- Those variants of covid-19 that increases the
transmissibility and covid -19 spread easier due to this or the severity of
the disease increases. It reduces the effectiveness of vaccine.

5. CONTD..
 The variant has an unusually large number of
mutations, several of which are novel and several of
which affect the spike protein used for most vaccine
targeting at the time of its discovery.
 This level of variation has led to concerns regarding
transmissibility, immune system evasion and vaccine
resistance.

6. What we know about Omicron
 It is not yet clear whether Omicron is more
transmissible (e.g., more easily spread from person to
person) compared to other variants, including Delta.
The number of people testing positive has risen in
areas of South Africa affected by this variant. but
epidemiologic studies are underway to understand if it
is because of Omicron or other factors.

7. Severity of disease:
 It is not yet clear whether infection with
Omicron causes more severe disease compared to
infections with other variants, including
Delta. Preliminary data suggests that there are
increasing rates of hospitalization in South Africa, but
this may be due to increasing overall numbers of
people becoming infected, rather than a result of
specific infection with Omicron.

8. India hits 100 crore Covid vaccine
milestone on 21st Oct 2021

9. Effectiveness of vaccines:
 WHO is working with technical partners to
understand the potential impact of this variant on our
existing countermeasures, including vaccines.
Vaccines remain critical to reducing severe disease and
death, including against the dominant circulating
variant, Delta. Current vaccines remain effective
against severe disease and death.

10. Virus
Mutation

16.  This variant has a large number of mutations, some of
which are concerning. Preliminary evidence suggests
an increased risk of reinfections with this variant, as
compared to other VOCs. The number of cases of this
variant appears to be increasing in almost all provinces
in South Africa. Current SARS-CoV-2 PCR diagnostics
continue to detect this variant.

17.  Several labs have indicated that for one widely used
PCR test, one of the three target genes is not detected
(called S gene dropout or S gene target failure) and this
test can therefore be used as marker for this variant,
pending sequencing confirmation. Using this
approach, this variant has been detected at faster rates
than previous surges in infection, suggesting that this
variant may have a growth advantage.

18. CONTD..
 Based on the evidence presented indicative of a
detrimental change in COVID-19 epidemiology, the
TAG-VE has advised WHO that this variant should be
designated as a VOC, and the WHO has designated
B.1.1.529 as a VOC, named Omicron.

19.  As such, countries are asked to do the following:
 enhance surveillance and sequencing efforts to better
understand circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants.
 submit complete genome sequences
 Report initial cases/clusters associated with VOC
infection to WHO through the IHR mechanism.
 where capacity exists and in coordination with the
international community, perform field investigations
and laboratory assessments to improve understanding
of the potential impacts of the VOC on COVID-19
epidemiology, severity, effectiveness of public health
and social measures, diagnostic methods, immune
responses, antibody neutralization, or other relevant
characteristics.

20. We have the Tools
to Fight Omicron

21.  Vaccines remain the best public health
measure to protect people from COVID-
19, slow transmission, and reduce the
likelihood of new variants emerging.

22.  CDC recommends that everyone 5 years and older
protect themselves from COVID-19 by getting fully
vaccinated. CDC recommends that everyone ages
18 years and older should get a booster shot at
least two months after their initial J&J/Janssen
vaccine or six months after completing their
primary COVID-19 vaccination series of Pfizer-
BioNTech or Moderna.