WHO experts on COVID-19 vaccines will update recommendations on the background of the new strain

An expert group of the World Health Organization (WHO) will review data on new coronavirus variants, including the PJ strain, in December.2.1. Based on the results of the discussions, experts will prepare recommendations on the composition of vaccines against COVID-19. This was announced by the organization on November 7.

"WHO Technical Advisory Group on the composition of vaccines against COVID-19 (TAG-CO-VAC) <...> will review the data on the PJ options.2.1," the publication says.

The group will also explore options for ST.1 and SW.2.1. Experts will analyze their genetic evolution, distribution, antigenic characteristics, immunogenicity and data on the effectiveness of vaccines.Газета.Ru ".

Virologist Elena Malinnikova explained on the same day that the new variant of coronavirus can cause more severe sore throat and prolonged exhaustion after illness. The specialist also stressed that Russia has developed modern test systems adapted to all known variants of the coronavirus.

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And is the new subtype of omicron able to influence the seasonal increase in morbidity?

On October 27, the press service of Rospotrebnadzor reported that no new strain of coronavirus had been detected in Russia. For the first time, the PJ option.2.1, belonging to the Omicron evolutionary lineage, was identified in early May in Canada. Later it was discovered in the USA, Spain, Australia and Singapore. The main feature of the new variant is the increased ability of the virus protein to bind to human cell receptors, which may contribute to more intensive disease transmission.