BANGKOK, Dec 19 : Studies have found that two shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine will only provide 50 per cent protection from the Omicron variant compared to the Delta variant, Dr Chalermchai Boonyaleepun, vice chairman of Thailand's Public Health Commission posted on his Facebook.

“Omicron is the most heavily mutated variant of the Covid-19 virus, with more than 60 mutations altogether and up to 32 mutations in one spike alone.

"The new variant hits on three fronts, transmissibility, severity of symptoms and resistance to vaccines, which is the main concern across the globe,” the post read.

Dr Chalermchai also cited a recent study conducted by the South Africa Medical Research Council and the Discovery Health insurance firm.

The study was conducted on 78,000 people in South Africa and found that Omicron is resistant to two doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

The study found that two shots of the mRNA vaccine provide only 33 per cent protection, while they are 80 per cent effective against the Delta variant.

Also, hospitalisation prevention rates stand at 70 per cent for Omicron and 93 per cent for Delta.

The study did not provide information about the Moderna vaccine, which is also developed using mRNA technology.

Dr Chalermchai added that the Sinovac inactivated vaccine is also found to be less effective against the new variant.

Meanwhile, Assoc Prof Dr Thira Woratanarat from Chulalongkorn Universitys Faculty of Medicine said that Covid-19 is not a weak virus as it has infected more than 200 million people and killed over five million.

He added that the Omicron variant is particularly worrisome because it is easily transmissible, escapes immunity and resists treatment.

“Even though Omicron infections are less severe, the number of Covid-19 cases can be expected to surge quickly,” he said.

He said many countries, including those that had decided to “co-exist” with Covid-19, have launched strict measures to curb the spread of the disease.

He is advising people to wear two face masks (a surgical mask with a cloth mask on top), maintain social distancing, avoid gatherings especially in poorly ventilated places and celebrate Christmas and New Year at home.

 - ANN