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Omicron subvariants escape antibody responses: study

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3 years ago

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  • Subvariants can escape antibody responses among those who had contracted COVID-19 and those who are vaccinated, boosted. 
  • Vaccination is expected to provide substantial protection against coronavirus.
  • Study shows it may also increase “risk of vaccine-breakthrough COVID-19 infections.”

A new study shows that the Omicron subvariants BA4 and BA5 can escape antibody responses among people who had contracted COVID-19 and those who have been vaccinated and boosted. 

However, the vaccination is expected to provide substantial protection against coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the vaccine makers are also working on upgraded shots that may evoke a stronger immune response against the subvariants, CNN reported. 

According to the new research published in the New England Journal of Medicine, compared with the original coronavirus, the levels of neutralising antibodies that a previous infection or vaccinations elicit are several times lower against the BA4 and BA5 subvariants. 

“We observed three-fold reductions of neutralizing antibody titers induced by vaccination and infection against BA4 and BA5 compared with BA1 and BA2, which are already substantially lower than the original COVID-19 variants,” wrote Dr Dan Barouch, who is an author of the paper. 

“Our data suggest that these new Omicron subvariants will likely be able to lead to surges of infections in populations with high levels of vaccine immunity as well as natural BA1 and BA2 immunity,” he added. 

The findings are separate researches by scientists at Columbia University, according to which, the escaping of BA4 and BA5 viruses also increases the “risk of vaccine-breakthrough COVID-19 infections.”

Their studies also suggest an increased risk of reinfection, among those people who had been immunised against the virus. 

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said that the subvariants are reported to be fast-spreading ones, which are expected to dominate the United States, United Kingdom and the rest of Europe in the upcoming few weeks. 

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Maintaining Fertiliser Price Stability: The Need for a Continuous Gas Supply to the Fertiliser Sector

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5 days ago

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To guarantee fertiliser price stability, a cabinet committee meeting was presided over by Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, the deputy prime minister.

Senior government officials, including Industries Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, attended the meeting.

The attendees received an update on the government’s, gas suppliers’, and fertiliser industry’s conversations. Additionally, the gas supply for the fertiliser sector was evaluated and determined to be adequate.

Throughout the Rabi cropping season, the Deputy Prime Minister ordered the fertiliser industry to maintain a continuous gas supply in order to guarantee steady production and stock levels.

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Fifth Straight Cut: PM Applauds SBP’s Policy Rate Reduction

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5 days ago

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Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has praised the State Bank of Pakistan’s decision to lower its policy rate by an additional 2 percent, stating that the bank’s current 13 percent rate is encouraging for the nation’s economy.

He expressed optimism in a statement that the policy rate cut would encourage investment and further boost investor confidence in the country’s economy.

The prime minister said that decreasing the inflation rate also lowered the policy rate and that future inflation rate reductions will be even more pronounced.

Additionally, he expressed gratitude to the Federal Finance Minister and other officials for their work in this area.

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GHQ Attack Case: Prosecution Seeks Bail Cancellation of CM KP & Other Accused, Indicts 9 More

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5 days ago

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25 defendants, including PTI officials, have non-bailable arrest warrants issued by the Anti Terrorism Court of Rawalpindi for their failure to show up for court proceedings related to the GHQ attack case.

Judge Amjad Ali Shah added nine more suspects to the GHQ attack indictment list during today’s ATC Court sessions, bringing the total to 98.

Among the 61 defendants who appeared in court were Shah Mehmud Qureshi and the founder of the PTI.

Among those charged are Khadim Hussain Khokhar, Mehr Mohammad Javed, Chaudhary Asif, Zakir Ullah, Azeem Ullah, Shireen Mazatri, Major Retired Tahir Sadiq, and former MPA Rashid Hafeez.

A plea to cancel the bail of 23 suspects, including Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has also been filed by the prosecution side.

In the GHQ attack, there were 119 accused in total.

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