What is known about the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants, which are causing a new wave of COVID infections? – The financial

In several countries of the world, sanitary measures were relaxed to avoid contagion of COVID. However, in recent weeks there has been a significant increase in cases.

Some countries that have begun to see hints of a new wave of infections, according to the BBC, they are Australia, USA and several European nations.

The new cases have been driven primarily by the subvariants BA.4 AND BA.5 of omicron We tell you what we know so far about them, since they could become the dominant ones in the coming weeks:

• The new sublineage omicron show the ability to evade antibodies from previous infections and vaccines, a study from South African laboratory.
• Blood samples from people who had been infected with the original omicron variant saw a nearly eight-fold drop in neutralizing antibody production when tested against sublineages BA.4 and BA.5.
• The vaccines are effective against the new omicron sub-variants that have driven the surge in Covid-19 cases in South Africa, the WHO chief said.
• The BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants account for around 5% and 6% of cases sequenced in South Africa.
• The symptoms of the new strain are very similar to those of the ‘stealth’ or BA.2 variant: cough, nasal congestion and fatigue for about four days.
• BA.5 has been detected in 13 countries and five US states.

EU authorizes Pfizer and Moderna COVID vaccine for children under 5

COVID vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna for children under 5 years of age received authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this Friday.

This means that almost the entire US population will soon be able to protect themselves against illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

FDA clearance allows the use of Pfizer’s three-dose vaccine for children from six months to 4 years, manufactured with the German partner BioNTech, and Moderna’s two-dose vaccine for children from six months to 5 years, detailed the agency.

The use of Moderna’s COVID vaccine was also authorized for children and adolescents from 6 to 17 years. Until now, only the Pfizer vaccine was available for this age group.