TY - JOUR AU - Basavanna, Pushpa Nagavalli AU - Basavanagowdappa, Hatur AU - Siddaiah, Archana AU - Patra, Apurba AU - Srinivasan, Viveka AU - Janardhan, Sudha Makam AU - Pasi, Rachna AU - Ravi, Kumar Satish PY - 2022/06/30 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Omicron and vaccine booster dose – an update JF - Indian Journal of Community Health JA - Indian J Community Health VL - 34 IS - 2 SE - Review Article DO - 10.47203/IJCH.2022.v34i02.006 UR - https://iapsmupuk.org/journal/index.php/IJCH/article/view/2348 SP - 167 - 169 AB - <p>Mutations in coronavirus is not unheard off. The variant, Omicron B.1.1.529 has overall 50 mutations and is considered as a variant of concern. Though the new variant has shown changes throughout its genome, S gene changes predominate. Significant changes in the S encoding gene, S gene, influences not only the transmissibility properties of SARS-CoV-2 but also the efficacy of existing vaccines. Increased transmissibility and ability of this variant to evade host immune responses conferred either due to past infections or due to vaccination driving increase in number of infections. However, the severity of the infections is low in comparison to its predecessors. A meta-analysis of ten studies analyzing the effect of COVID-19 vaccine booster dose, it was found studies report 10-to-42-fold increase in omicron neutralization. COVID appropriate behaviors, if followed rigidly can bring a meaningful change in the viral spread and resultant health impacts.</p> ER -