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Omicron subvariants escape antibody responses: study

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2 years ago

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  • Subvariants can escape antibody responses among those who had contracted COVID-19 and those who are vaccinated, boosted. 
  • Vaccination is expected to provide substantial protection against coronavirus.
  • Study shows it may also increase “risk of vaccine-breakthrough COVID-19 infections.”

A new study shows that the Omicron subvariants BA4 and BA5 can escape antibody responses among people who had contracted COVID-19 and those who have been vaccinated and boosted. 

However, the vaccination is expected to provide substantial protection against coronavirus.

Meanwhile, the vaccine makers are also working on upgraded shots that may evoke a stronger immune response against the subvariants, CNN reported. 

According to the new research published in the New England Journal of Medicine, compared with the original coronavirus, the levels of neutralising antibodies that a previous infection or vaccinations elicit are several times lower against the BA4 and BA5 subvariants. 

“We observed three-fold reductions of neutralizing antibody titers induced by vaccination and infection against BA4 and BA5 compared with BA1 and BA2, which are already substantially lower than the original COVID-19 variants,” wrote Dr Dan Barouch, who is an author of the paper. 

“Our data suggest that these new Omicron subvariants will likely be able to lead to surges of infections in populations with high levels of vaccine immunity as well as natural BA1 and BA2 immunity,” he added. 

The findings are separate researches by scientists at Columbia University, according to which, the escaping of BA4 and BA5 viruses also increases the “risk of vaccine-breakthrough COVID-19 infections.”

Their studies also suggest an increased risk of reinfection, among those people who had been immunised against the virus. 

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said that the subvariants are reported to be fast-spreading ones, which are expected to dominate the United States, United Kingdom and the rest of Europe in the upcoming few weeks. 

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CM Marryam advises MPAs to keep an eye on naan and roti costs.

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18 hours ago

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The MPAs have been instructed by Punjab Chief Minister Marryam Nawaz Sharif to keep an eye on the cost of naan and roti in their respective regions.

The duty of keeping an eye on roti and naan prices falls on the District Monitoring Committees.

The MPAs were instructed by the CM to uphold the official prices in their respective regions.

She threatened to take tough measures against Punjab’s extortionate naan and roti sales.

She finished by saying that public officials should assume a prominent role in guaranteeing the public’s relief from naan and roti pricing.

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Huge investment potential exists in the telecom and IT sectors. Shaza Fatima

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18 hours ago

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According to Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication, there are numerous investment prospects in Pakistan’s IT and telecom sectors.

She noted that the current administration is dedicated to fostering foreign investment in the nation, in line with the Prime Minister’s goal.

According to a news release, CEOs Wateen Adil Rashid and Muhammad Shahbaz Khan of Taavun (Pvt) Limited, who paid her a visit on Tuesday, spoke with Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja.

She declared that the private sector would receive complete support because it is essential to growing our exports.

Regarding youngsters, she stated that they are our greatest asset and that efforts are being made to further their growth.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates was thanked by Shaza Fatima for his particular interest in promoting additional investment in Pakistan’s telecom industry.

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Before the by-elections, Elahi takes LHC to stop the intimidation of his voters and poll workers.

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19 hours ago

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In advance of the April 21 by-elections, senior PTI leader and former chief minister of Punjab, Ch Parvez Elahi, filed a complaint with the Lahore High Court (LHC) alleging intimidation of his voters and poll workers.

Elahi filed a petition and named the Gujrat Police, the Election Commission, and other parties as respondents.

The petitioner claimed that the police were harassing his family members and supporters because he was running in the by-election from PP-32.

In the petition, Elahi claimed that during the nomination papers’ filing, her attorneys were also subjected to harassment.

Elahi, in the appeal, said that “the returning officer and police are supporting my opponent while the code of conduct issued by the election commission is also being violated in the constituency.”

Additionally, he charged that his opponent’s election campaign was being managed by province minister Ch Shafay Hussain.

Before the court, the petitioner asked that the officials refrain from harassing his poll workers and voters.

Elahi further requested that the LHC order the officials to give Forms 45 and 46 to the polling agents throughout the voting process.

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