It was reported by the Israeli Health Ministry that they have found two people bearing the COVID-19 variant that combined the initial Omicron and the ostensible “Stealth” B.A.2 variant.
Research suggests that the BA.2 variant spread more rapidly than the original Omicron. Also, omicron itself is a rapid spreading variant.
The Times of Israel stated in the recent report on March 16 that “the strain hasn’t been yet seen in the world”.
The ministry informed that the combo variant has been found in recent days while testing foreign travellers arriving at Ben Gurion Airport. The two cases found are not been given any spesh medical care as they are suffering from mild symptoms.
Another Israeli study shows that the “rates of confirmed infections were 2 times lower and rates of severe illness were 4 times lower among individuals who received an additional booster dose”. Based on this study report of Israel, Pfizer and BioNTech asked for the approval of a second booster dose of their COVID vaccine for people aged 65 and older from the United States Drug Regulator.
“An additional mRNA booster increases immunogenicity and lowers rates of confirmed infections and severe illness”- stated the two companies in a press statement.
