“Says, new variant can transmit person to person even without a direct contact ’’
By: Dr. Roshneck Hameed Khan
ISLAMABAD: New variant of coronavirus pandemic, omicron, is spreading with 10% more pace than the earlier variants of deadly virus, said the Vice Chancellor Health Services Academy Islamabad, Professor Dr. Shehzad Ali Khan. He expressed this while giving an interview to Dr. Roshneck Hameed Khan in Islamabad on other day.
He said that omicron is fastest spreading virus which don’t need even a direct contact. In previous variants the direct contact for transmission of virus from person to person was inevitable. But, omicron is such a variant which has the capacity to transmit itself from one person to other person even without any direct contact. Scientists are of the view that this variant has the ability to suspend in the air for some time. If an affected person sneezes at a place and went away. The variant will stay there and will affect the person who will come next. This variant is spreading across the globe very fast, he added.
While responding a question regarding symptoms of omicron, Dr. Shehzad Ali said that if someone is suffering from flue, then he should isolate him/her for next couple of days without wasting any time. Flue is the main symptom of this variant. Another important thing people should keep in mind that sometime this variant affects people even without any visible symptom. This variant is different from previous variants on the basis of its speed also. It transmits fast, replicates fast, and even it ends fast. However, those who have got jabs of coronavirus vaccination are safe from this variant, he further said.
Dr. Shehzad Ali said that rapid test and PCR are enough to diagnose the new variant. Change in variants of coronavirus pandemic is natural phenomenon. Whenever this virus transmits from one person to other person mutation takes place. Due to this process there comes a slight difference in the virus. This process was very slow in previous variants, but in case of omicron the mutation process is very fast. Due to mutation process which takes place in virus, the scientists face difficulties in making its vaccine. Virus continuously changes itself. Omicron will further change itself. People should take great care of themselves. They should follow the SOPs and avoid going out unless it is necessary, he added.
Addressing a question regarding
the danger of omicron for those who have done with vaccination he said that according to a recent data on coronavirus 90% of deaths caused by coronavirus across the globe are of those masses who were not done with vaccine. So, saying no to vaccine is not an issue of Pakistan only. But, this issue prevails everywhere in the world. Omicron can affect the vaccinated people also, but the ratio is quite lower as compare to none vaccinated masses. So, one can say that vaccinated people are safe from this variant. When it comes to boosters, those who have got their jabs done should go for booster if 06 months have been passed since their last dose. It usually happens that after 06 months of vaccination the immunity which was developed in the body against coronavirus comes down. Therefore, to assure complete protection one should get the booster jab, he added.
He said that there are no charges on boosters. Vaccine is totally free from government’s side. If someone is charged for booster dose then he must register a complaint to relevant drug inspector. NCOC did not receive any such complaint yet. The vaccines for which the government set the price were Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca for those who were traveling abroad. The price was set on Rs 1270. This is the price of those vaccines only. There are no any extra charges. So people should keep in mind that the price is just for the additional vaccines, there is no any price for boosters. When it comes to the question that either one can get a booster of different vaccine or one must go for booster of the same vaccine, the ideal situation is that one should go for booster of same vaccine. However, the booster of different vaccines can also be an option, he added.
While responding a question regarding best vaccine for children of 12 years of age, he said that Pfizer is approved for children worldwide. Sinovacc and sinopharm are also approved for children in China. There are few countries where children of age 05 years are also being given the jabs of vaccine. Pfizer and Moderna are recommended for children in Pakistan. However, there are chances that the Chinese vaccines may also be recommended for children in coming days, he further said.
Answering a question about percentage of vaccinated people in the country, Dr. Shehzad Ali said that almost 68% population has got the first dose and more than 51% population has got both the doses. This is a good percentage for Pakistan. Vaccination process remained very swift in the country. Government is expecting that 70% population of the country will be vaccinated till the March of current year. The need of the hour is that government should devise strict policies to implement the SOPs and people should also cooperate in this regard. The only way to protect oneself from omicron is to get both the jabs of vaccine and if both the jabs are done then one should go for booster, he further said.