Experts raise the alarm once again about the coronavirus. Luis Enjuanes, a CSIC virologist, has raised concerns about the dangers of omicron in the last few hours and requested that new restrictions be imposed. Now, Rafael Bengoa (an international advisor on health policies, and a former Basque Minister for Health), has stated that a seventh wave is currently occurring, with the “lineage of omicron>>” variant.
Interviewed by Radio Euskadi Bengoa stated that the variants currently in action and which have triggered infection are called AB4 or AB5 and are “very infectious, almost to the level of measles”.
“This means that epidemiologically, there is a wave being expressed. This wave is also having the same impact in hospitals as it did in the past two years. He explained that these variants are not as infectious, but they do not cause the same level of clinical damage.
These new variants have the same symptoms, but are less severe because of the steep learning curve in medical and pharmaceutical fields. She said that doctors know what to do if a patient has problems with oxygenation or lungs.
Bengoa believes that the current covid is the most infectious of all the ones registered during the pandemic. This is because it is an omicron-lineage which was already very, extremely infectious and which has managed to overcome the immunity we have been building, both with vaccines and previous infections of other varieties.
He stated that while vaccines are still important in protecting us, we are becoming more and more infected to the point where it is practically measles. This was the most serious level of infection in relation to the virus’ infectiousness.
Rafael Bengoa insists that this lineage “has managed to evade defenses”, but that it “even if it infects, it is important that you know that the vaccines protect.”
He believes it is crucial that the “pharmaceutical world” prepares a fall vaccine “either multivariate, or one that works with all omicrons and all of their variants and linesages.” He said, “That would enable us to have an autumn-winter vaccine in which it already protects us against this micron and its linesages.”
Bengoa believes it is important to “start accelerating” vaccination with the fourth dose. The virus “is beginning express itself this summer”, and “this virus disguised as one or another attacks us again every three to four months.” She said that it was important for people aged 60 or older to receive a fourth dose of vaccine.
He also predicted that there would be “a lot of flu” this fall. For this reason, he recommends anticipating September and October, and giving “a double vaccine, one flu shot and the fourth,” to all people who are susceptible.
He said that the minister had already recommended that the mask be recovered indoors and in areas with poor ventilation. He also warned that he sees too much “laissez faire (let it happen),” and that there is not enough volume to correspond to the recommendations. She stated that she believes it is important to increase the volume of the recommendations.
