Existing Vaccine Less Effective Against Omicron: Moderna CEO

New Delhi: As the COVID-19 new Omicron has raised concern across the world and almost each and every country are gearing themselves to fight with this new variant, drug maker Modern's Chief Executive Statement (CEO) statement has doubled the concern for the world.

In a recent interview with Financial Times, Moderna's CEO Stéphane Bancel has said that existing vaccine could be less effective at tackling Omicron compare to earlier variants.

Bancel also warned that it will take months for vaccine manufacturers companies to manufacture new variant-specific jabs at scale.

"There is no world, I think, where [the effectiveness] is the same level . . . we had with Delta,", the Financial Times quoted him as saying.

"I think it's going to be a material drop. I just don't know how much because we need to wait for the data. But all the scientists I've talked to . . . are like 'this is not going to be good'," he added.

According to World Health organization (WHO) -- Omicron carries a "very high" risk of infection surges - has triggered global alarm, with border closures casting a shadow over a nascent economic recovery from a two-year pandemic.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Union Health Ministry had revised guidelines for international arrivals in India which will come into the effect from December 1 in view of the threat of the new coronavirus variant Omicron.

Under the revised guidelines, the Centre makes it mandatory for international passengers entering India to submit 14-days travel details and upload negative RT-PCR test report on the Air Suvidha portal before the journey. This test should have been conducted within 72 hours prior to undertaking the journey.

As per Health Ministry's guidelines, travelers from 'countries at-risk' will need to take the COVID test post-arrival & wait for results at the airport. If tested negative they'll follow, home quarantine for 7 days. Re-test on 8th day & if negative, further self-monitor for next 7 days.

"Travelers from countries excluding those 'countries at risk' will be allowed to leave the airport and shall self-monitor health for 14 days' post-arrival. A sub-section (5% of total flight passengers) shall undergo post-arrival testing at random at the airport on arrival," the guidelines state.

The countries (at risk updated as on November 26, 2021) from where travelers would need to follow additional measures on arrival in India include European countries, the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong and Israel.

According to the revised guidelines, before boarding passengers originating from or transiting through at-risk countries shall be informed by the airlines that they will undergo post-arrival testing, quarantine if tested negative, stringent isolation protocols if tested positive, etc.

Also read:Two South Korean Nationals Escape From Tamil Nadu Police, Reach Manipur To Flee India

Also watch: