Will Omicron Have Prolonged Effect In India? Check What Harvard Immunologist Says

New Delhi: COVID-19 will never be completely eradicated but vaccines and drugs will hopefully change many things in a few years down the line, Harvard immunologist Dr Shiv Pillai said.

The immunologist raised concerns as little is known about the second version of Omicron (BA.2) that is spreading in the country currently.

“In India, there is a variant of Omicron BA.2 that’s also spreading, it is different from Omicron. In fact, Omicron BA.1 is the original, but it’s slightly different,” Professor of Medicine and Health Sciences and Technology and director, Harvard Immunology Graduate Programme, Harvard Medical School, Dr Pillai was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

“Immunity from BA.1 first Omicron might give us some immunity against the second one BA.2. But will that second one be as mild? Not proven yet. We’ll see the data will probably come from South Africa and India first. Because in India, BA.2 has taken over it is the most common version in India right now. It’s rising the second version of Omicron,” said Dr Pillai.

The BA.2 cases have spread in South Africa and the United States, said Dr Pillai, adding that it is not clear whether BA.2 will replace BA.1 and cause another surge.

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