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All →New COVID-19 variant of concern named Omicron
Nov 30, 2021, 01:05 AM
On 26 November, WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) designated the B.1.1.529 variant (first reported by South Africa two days earlier) as a variant of concern, named Omicron.
On 26 November, WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on SARS-CoV-2 Virus Evolution (TAG-VE) designated the B.1.1.529 variant (first reported by South Africa two days earlier) as a variant of concern, named Omicron.
There have since been reports of the variant in other countries globally, including within the WHO European Region.
WHO is working with countries and partners to understand the potential impact of this variant on our existing preventive measures, including vaccines. Based on available evidence, current vaccines are effective in reducing severe disease and death against all COVID-19 variants.