The Hungarian government continues to rely on vaccination as the most important form of protection.Continue reading
Ferenc Jakab believes Covid is just the beginning of a series of epidemics, noting that the Omicron variant significantly differs from its predecessors, Mfor reports. This is why he considers vaccination crucial, as it is our best way of protecting our environment and ourselves while obstructing the development of new variants.
“We’re going to be living in the age of epidemics, we’ll have to battle countless diseases,” the virologist from the University of Pécs told a web conference. Jakab expects Hungary’s experience with Omicron to be similar to what happened recently in the United Kingdom; in the coming weeks the number of infected will shoot up.
Omicron’s ability to mutate is very significant, he stated, saying that it is 20-30 times more infectious than the original strain, “it’s like a wildfire.” Jakab added that in less-vaccinated areas of the world, such as parts of Asia and Africa, the virus spreads much more easily, and newer mutations are bound to occur, sparking new Covid waves.
We need to take on a global perspective, and spread the vaccination program to these countries as well. Because while we’re already talking about fourth vaccinations, many people in these countries have not even received their first jab.”
The virologist also noted that the effectiveness of current vaccines depleted to around 70-75 percent in the face of Omicron, but that there will never be a 100 percent effective vaccine. Jakab also noted that the immunity provided by infection does not last long, 3-4 months at most. Vaccination, he stated, does not stop people from getting infected, but it protects them from serious illness, reducing the stress that is currently being put on healthcare.
Featured photo illustration by Tamás Sóki/MTI