The pharmaceutical company Moderna stated that people, especially those with weakened immune system, can be infected with two strains of coronavirus at once - both "Delta" and "Omicron". This could lead to an even more contagious variant, RBC-Ukraine reported.
"Scientific studies in South Africa show that people, especially those with weakened immune systems, can be infected with two strains at once. It's still possible now, given the number of infections we're seeing," said Paul Burton, chief medical officer of the pharmaceutical company Moderna.
He said the simultaneous infection with the two strains could lead to an even more infectious variant.
"The two strains will coexist in the coming months, and Omicron will start infecting people amid a very difficult delta situation. This could lead to situations where people are infected with the two variants, allowing these viruses to further evolve and mutate. This situation is cause for concern," said the specialist.
According to experts, both strains can affect the same cell and thus mutate, but the probability of such a development is estimated to be very low.
Meanwhile, it has become known that the Pfizer vaccine is less effective against Omicron strain coronavirus. As it was found by Discovery Health scientists, Pfizer-BioNTech protects from infection by the new variant of the virus only 33%, while guaranteeing 70% protection from hospitalization. This is reported by Reuters.
The study was conducted during the period when the new Omicron strain was first detected in the Republic of South Africa and Botswana (from November 15 to December 7).
Note that Israeli researchers said last week that vaccination with three doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine protects against the new variant of Omicron coronavirus. The booster dose increases the ability to neutralize the new strain by about 100 times.
