UK becomes first nation to approve Omicron vaccine

Tags: International News

The UK on 16 August approved a booster dose against COVID-19, which is claimed to be effective against both the original and variant Omicron forms of the coronavirus.

Important facts

• The agency's decision was based on clinical trial data showing that the booster dose triggered "a strong immune response" against both Omicron and the original 2020 coronavirus.

• With this, Britain has become the first country to have approved such a vaccine.

• The vaccine was found to meet the standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.

• The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said that half of each dose of the booster vaccine Spike Vax Bivalent Original/Omicron, i.e. 25 micrograms, works against the original form, while the other half targets Omicron.

5 variants of coronavirus are cause of concern

• Omicron - Identified in southern Africa in November 2021

• Delta - emerged in India in late 2020 and spread around the world

• Gamma - Emerged in Brazil in late 2020

• Beta - Emerged in South Africa in early 2020

• Alpha - Emerged in Britain in late 2020