A new variant of Covid could soon become dominant, prompting experts to call for the inclusion of vaccination in programs for preschool children.
Dubbed “Cicada,” the BA.3.2 variant has spread rapidly in the US and has now been identified in dozens of countries, including the UK. Experts worry that its mutations could help the virus evade the immune protection created by existing vaccines.
The symptoms remain similar to the previous ones – severe fatigue, fever, and body aches – but it seems that school-age children are more vulnerable to this variant.
Professor Stephen Griffin from the University of Leeds says the current spread does not look like a rapid wave, but rather a gradual increase. However, he warns that the more infections there are, the greater the chance of new mutations.
He criticizes the previous approach of making childhood vaccination optional, arguing that the risk of reinfection and “prolonged Covid” in young people has not been sufficiently taken into account. According to him, Covid vaccines should be included in the regular immunization schedule for preschool children, with regular boosters, similar to the flu vaccine.
Analyses show that the "spike" protein of this variant has undergone about 75 mutations, making it a new challenge for the immune system.
However, Professor Paul Hunter, a microbiologist, stresses that the emergence of new variants is expected and does not necessarily mean an increase in deaths. According to him, even if a new variant spreads faster, this does not automatically mean more serious consequences for public health.
Experts note that while vaccines have significantly reduced the risk of severe forms of the disease, protection is most effective when the vaccination is fresh. Declining vaccination rates remain a significant concern.
Currently, there are no signs that the world is on the verge of a new pandemic, but the increase in cases could again cause problems in schools, the health system, and public transportation.
According to the latest data, the percentage of cases associated with this variant remains low and the total number of infections is still at controlled levels. /GazetaExpress/
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