The first batch of vaccines in the Omikron BA.1 variant is already in Poland

What is known - vaccines will only be used as a booster and certainly will not be vaccinated in the first place by those who have received a second booster dose relatively recently - for example in July - in the form of vaccines available so far. One of the questions that we will know the answer to in a few days - will the modified vaccines be another booster for people over 80, who took the fourth dose in spring? Experts expect that such a decision may be taken, but most likely only after the EMA approves the vaccines, which are currently being finalized, taking into account the latest variant of BA.5.

Perhaps the appearance of omicron vaccines - even if they take into account the oldest sub-variants of Omicron - will somewhat accelerate the vaccination process with a booster. The vaccination level in the basic scheme has not changed for months, it is still below 60%. (vaccination with two doses), lower than the EU average, we also have the level of vaccination with the third dose (it was taken by every third Pole). Vaccinations with the fourth dose, especially in the group of the oldest seniors, are also very slow - experts hope that some people (despite unequivocal recommendations regarding the use of existing vaccines) refrained from deciding on a second booster in the hope that the new preparations will better protect during the expected the autumn and winter wave of infections.

What experts and analysts pay attention to - although the course of infections is mostly very mild, at the same time the number of reinfections is systematically increasing and the period of protection offered by infection is significantly shortened. You can forget about the several-month periods of natural immunity inherent in the first variants of SARS-CoV-2. Re-infection is now possible even after less than a month.