The Omicron variant of the coronavirus has been reported in 89 countries and the number of cases is doubling in 1.5 to three days in areas with community transmission, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Saturday.
Omicron is spreading rapidly in countries with high levels of population immunity, but it is unclear if this is due to the virus’ ability to evade immunity, its inherent increased transmissibility or a combination of both, the WHO said in an update.
The agency designated Omicron a variant of concern on November 26, soon after it was first detected, and much is still not known about it, including the severity of the illness it causes.
“There are still limited data on the clinical severity of Omicron. More data is needed to understand the severity profile and how severity is impacted by vaccination and pre-existing immunity,” the WHO said.
It added that there was still limited data and no peer-reviewed evidence on vaccine efficacy or effectiveness to date for Omicron.
Meanwhile, findings by Sunday PUNCH on Saturday in Abuja revealed that no fewer than 20 states were yet to commence administration of COVID-19 booster shots amidst global fears that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus could defy two doses of COVID-19 vaccines.
This is as our correspondent observed that only 6,407 shots have been administered in 16 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Sunday PUNCH reports that the Federal Government through the Executive Director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, had on December 9, 2021, announced that citizens would be free to take booster shots to activate more protection against the Omicron variant.
Scientists and other experts across the world had expressed fears over the potency of vaccines against the new variant and had advised the administration on booster shots.
According to data obtained from the NPHCDA, only 16 states and the FCT had begun administration of the boosters.
Lagos led with a total of 4,947; Kebbi 517; Kano 136; Bauchi 112; Cross River 100; Edo 117; Oyo 117; Sokoto 91; Ogun 87; Anambra 28; Benue 18; Ebonyi 11; Enugu 15; FCT 21; Katsina 48; Nasarawa 18 and Plateau with 24.
The 20 states that have not begun administration of the boosters include Abia, Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Ondo, Osun, Rivers, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.
Sunday PUNCH reports that so far, only a meager 3.7 per cent of the total eligible population in Nigeria have been fully vaccinated against the disease, making Nigeria miss the World Health Assembly commitment by nations to fully vaccinate at least 40 per cent of the total eligible population as of the end of 2021.
