Research by South African scientists suggests that Omicron could displace the Delta variant of the coronavirus because infection with the new variant boosts immunity to the older one.

Many countries are expanding Covid-19 vaccine booster programs or shortening the gap between shots as governments scramble to shore up protection against the new Omicron variant which emerged during November in southern Africa and Hong Kong.

Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine has been less effective in South Africa at keeping people infected with the virus out of hospital since the Omicron variant emerged in November, a real-world study published on December 14 showed.

The Omicron coronavirus variant detected in southern Africa could be the most likely candidate to displace the highly contagious Delta variant, the director of South Africa’s communicable disease institute said on November 30.

A new coronavirus variant that was first detected in South Africa during May does not appear to be spreading, the World Health Organization said on Aug. 31, adding WHO was monitoring the variant as the virus evolves.

Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine is working well in South Africa, offering protection against severe disease and death, the co-head of a trial in the country said on Aug. 6.

The head of the World Trade Organization said there was a pathway for a global deal to get more Covid-19 vaccines to developing countries, despite a split over whether drugs firms should be stripped of their intellectual property rights.

An experimental monoclonal antibody treatment for Covid-19 being developed by Eli Lilly and Co. and AbCellera Biologics Inc. can “potently” neutralize numerous coronavirus variants, including those first identified in the UK, Brazil, South Africa, California and New York, scientists found in test tube experiments. According to another study, some Covid-19 survivors infected early in the pandemic still have detectable antibodies against the virus a year later.

Coronavirus-related deaths worldwide crossed 3 million on April 6, according to a Reuters tally, as the latest global resurgence of Covid-19 infections is challenging vaccination efforts across the globe.

Novavax

Novavax Inc. said on April 5 participants in the company’s Covid-19 vaccine trials in South Africa and the UK can receive additional shots, ensuring those who received a placebo can also get the active vaccine.