OMICRON: AFRAID?

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Omicron is a mutant.

Why oh why can we not have vaccines for the Kardashians? At least, we don't have new mutants, just the current celebrity cluster. And you don't have to pay attention to them. They are not a physical disease. Maybe a form of mental illness.

In the case of COVID, you also have genetic aberrants. With new variants like Omicron, vaccines made for one variant, don’t necessarily work for others.

According to some reports, Pfizer is just about 20% effective. Score one for the Antivaxxers.

So vaccines haven't made the problem go away. That doesn't mean that vaccines aren't the answer. We just need better ones.

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What are the best vaccines?

The mRNA vaccines, for example, were designed for Alpha and had about 95% efficacy, although with disturbing side effects in some people.

With Delta, these vaccines delivered a maximum 88%, according to their makers – and more likely lower, according to real world reports -- with efficacy dropping fast after the second dose to below 50% after just four months, and almost nothing at 6 months.

Cuban vaccines such as Soberana designed on the basis of later variants including the virulent Beta form and Delta score almost 93 %, with efficacy lasting 50% longer. Taking into account the fact that they do not need refrigeration, the total cost of application for these vaccines is about 10% that of the American vaccines.

The Russian Sputnik vaccines were designed for Alpha but use a dual adenovirus delivery system that offers a wider spread of immune protection covering potential variants, an effect indicated in many studies. This immune effect lasts longer, past 6 months as confirmed by real world studies. By mid-January, Sputnik will be producing a booster tailored to Omicron. Again, the Russian vaccines are a fraction of the cost of the mRNA vaccines.

More bang for the buck.

Where is Omicron heading?

Months ago, I predicted new mutations on the horizon.

Omicron proves me right.

The main CoV viruses are zoonotic, cross-species organisms and that are constantly evolving.

COV-SARS 1 mutated from a disease with a very high fatality rate, into something more benign. So lots of people are hoping COV SARS 2 –the Big O COVID -- will be less dangerous than, say, Delta.

Initially the mostly anecdotal reports were that “so far” the cases had been mild. But most infections have been among younger people, who tend to show only mild symptoms But, in the UK,, where the virus is spreading very fast, there have been hospitalizations and at least one death. Obviously more people will die.

Among the few things we know about this virus, is that it is genetically unstable – which means it is more novel than th original COVID19 novel virus. So, it could mutate into something completely harmless -- or into something as lethal as the Bubonic Plague

There are NO COVID “experts”.

In situations like this, people want to trust “experts”. But where are the “experts” for something that didn’t exist before?

The experts at the WHO, who may or may not be experts say "don't panic". But I am not into Russian Roulette.

The CDC echoes the WHO with the caveat – “everything will be AOK if just get vaccinated with three shots of the old vaccine instead of two”. Does Fauci, who has come out as saying we don’t need an Omicron-specific vaccine, own stock in Pfizer I wonder?

Such advice is smart for public servants whose “public” consists of Bill Gates, who just happens to fund the WHO, Jeff Bezos who has made a few extra billions off COVID and Elon Musk who doesn’t much care. You, one of the People wait in line looking at the tail of the cow in front waiting for a bolt betw

een the eyes. Trust the cowboys. Be a happy, happy cow and later even happier as a hamburger.

The current vaccines available in the USA and its outlying colonies in Europe and Asia aren’t very effective against Omicron -- but be