OUR mapping of sub-options BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 in our country, this did not come as a surprise, given that new mutated strains of coronavirus have already appeared in 29 countries. According to his weekly report EODI (published yesterday, 10/25/2022) cases of sub-options BQ.1 (10 cases) and BB.1.1 (5 cases), (sub-options BA.5) recorded for the first time – 15 in total.

At the same time, according to ECDC – the European Center for Infection Prevention – by February next year, 80% of the population will be infected with new subvariants. In fact, BQ.1, including its sub-categories, is characterized as “highly important”.

On the same wavelength is the statement by the head of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Biological Threats and Vaccine Strategy, Marco Cavalleri, who said that a new wave of Omicron sub-options is expected in the coming weeks. .

Mr Cavalleri noted that “infections and hospitalizations are on the rise among people aged 65 years and over,” while he stressed that “ pandemic this is not the end and we are still in a global emergency, as the WHO said last week, urging citizens to get vaccinated or continue with booster doses, especially those in high-risk categories.

It is noted that, according to the limited data available, BQ.1 has the ability to largely avoid the immune response, but, on the other hand, there is no evidence that it is associated with a greater risk of severe disease compared to the BA.4 and BA subvariants. 5 her Omicron.

“Their appearance is expected,” says Gikas Majorkinis.

OUR Ghikas Mallorcaprofessor of epidemiology at EKPA and member of the expert committee for its management coronavirus in our country, he says that new sub-variants were expected, and even notes that, given that the identification of mutations is about a selective number, the distribution of BQ.1 and BQ1.1 in Greece is already well over 15 cases.

As he says: “BQ.1 has a 30% superiority over Omicron 5, while “working” faster than “Centaur“So it’s a prime candidate to win the winter surge, which is expected to start in mid-November.”

Mallorca says this outbreak will be manageable, although he adds it is not practical to open to all groups vaccination with updated vaccines. But, as he emphasizes: “those who are called to this must definitely do it.” However, he believes we are at the best moment of the pandemic – “this winter will be milder than the previous one, just as last summer was milder than the year before.

We always speak in terms of pressure on the NHS because otherwise the Omicron’s transmissibility is very high. We should not expect the world to be free of coronavirus. And we have not the slightest suspicion that the coronavirus will be eradicated.. This is a virus that is here to stay. It will constantly mutate and adapt. But we believe we have already entered a period where these adjustments are predictable.”

A bad combination with the flu and the coming of winter

OUR Demosthenes Sarigiannisthe environmental engineering professor at AUTH is more skeptical and believes that the emergence of BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 signals a new twist in the pandemic, at a time when there is also a factor flu but also the general relaxation of the world in regard to security measures.

As he comments: “15 cases, even in a small sample, is not a few. The new sub-variant has a doubling time of less than a week. According to the professor, from about November 20 to 25, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 will prevail in Greece, “eliminating” Omicron 5, but also “Centaur”.

Sarigiannis notes that the pathogenic characteristics of BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 are similar to those of Omicron 5, but he says the latter is not as harmless as it is commonly believed.

“All this time we have heard that Omicron 5 only affects the upper respiratory system, but this is not true, many studies and studies have shown that it affects the lower respiratory system as well,” says the professor and adds that one of the reasons for this that our country responded well to the last July wave, because the level of immunity due to vaccination or illness was still at a good level, which is not a fact that it exists today.

Finally, Mr. Sarigiannis believes mask use should return dynamically, as well as remote work in view of the onset of winter, while he believes that the opening of the fan of groups producing updated vaccines will be very useful in this phase.

BQ.1 “Resistance” to monoclonal drugs and the value of universal vaccination

“The disease it will cause will not be serious, but BQ.1 appears to be very resistant to monoclonal antibodies,” the pulmonology professor tells K. Theodoros Vasilakopoulos. Mr. Vasilakopoulos also in turn gives strong recommendation for vaccination updated vaccines for all citizens, not just for special groups. As he emphasizes: “The new mutation is very close in composition to the updated vaccines and therefore the latter can be very useful in this phase of the pandemic.

If we take into account that for a significant part of the population the last (2nd or 3rd) dose was a few months ago, or maybe a few months ago, and the coronavirus disease, then we understand that in a significant part of the population, immunity begins to weaken. population”. It is noted that vaccinations with updated bivalent vaccines are quite slow – they have now reached 22.5%.

Finally, Mr Vassilakopoulos predicts cases of coronovirus flu will be minimal, however the fact that both viruses cause cases at the same time could put sudden and coordinated pressure on the NHS.