Just when life feels like it’s getting somewhat back to normal, prior to the Pandemic, a new variant of the virus emerges in the Eastern hemisphere. The spreading variant was first detected in South Africa and later found its way into England, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, etc. Now, the virus has come onto the western hemisphere where the first two cases have been detected in Ontario, Canada. As a result, scientists are on the radar while simultaneously researching about the virus. New findings suggest that there is still uncertainty around the Omicron variant outcompeting the Delta variant.
Even though South Africa being transparent and clear about their findings, bans have been enforced restricting the travel of some African countries to the United States, Austrailia, and Canada. In turn the foreign ministry is concerned about the global response to these discoveries since they feel they are being punished rather than praised. They argue their advanced research and technology that led them to these findings should be applauded. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that there may be a higher reinfection rate which is of concern according the World Health Organization. The WHO stresses to unvaccinated people that the variant should serve more of a reason for those to get it.
Now that the first two cases have been discovered in Canada, the focus on booster shots becomes heightened. Covid vaccine creators rush to investigate ways to modify their coronavirus vaccines to tackle the newly detected Omicron variant, which has prompted countries throughout the world to tighten restrictions in an attempt to halt the spread. BioNTech and its partner Pfizer, as well as Moderna are working tirelessly to try and understand the efficacy of the current vaccine and through that, alter it as needed to combat the new variant. In regards to the Moderna vaccine, it may lose some efficacy but there is comfort in the fact that there is still some form of protection. Regardless, if need be, there is a means for the production of a new version within the next year.
This blog post is part of the CIMA Law Group Blog. If you are in need of legal help, the CIMA Law Group is a law firm in Phoenix, Arizona which possesses expertise in Immigration Law, Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, and Government Relations.
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