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Covid-19: Is an ‘Omicron-specific’ vaccine needed? Experts say it might come too late
As the world frets over the need for an Omicron-specific vaccine against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), several public health professionals and infectious disease experts interviewed by Nature have had mixed views on the matter. According to medics and researchers interviewed by the journal, it is unclear whether the scientific community will need to devote significant time and effort to developing a vaccine specifically against the highly circulating SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain of the coronavirus, as the world’s Cases may flatten out before injections are approved in most places, or the next strain may be completely different from the current one, requiring again a different vaccine composition.
Debate: Why develop an Omicron-specific vaccine?
The earliest Covid-19 vaccines were based on the original SARS-CoV-2 strain first discovered in Wuhan, China. But since then, the coronavirus has undergone multiple mutations; the Omicron strain, which is capable of frequent transmission, contains more than 30 mutations in key regions of its genome, making it quite different from the original strain.
Given the changes in Omicron’s biology compared to the original virus, and the fact that the new strain is becoming the dominant variant in several countries around the world, the researchers came up with the idea of updating the vaccine’s composition.
Also, the protection provided by the booster is not permanent. While the UK health safety agency says a third dose of the vaccine reduces the risk of hospitalisation by 92% and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says it is 90% effective in preventing hospitalisations, everyone agrees that the protection is driven by boosters The firing also waned quickly. The UK study showed that the effectiveness against hospitalisation dropped from 92% to 83% just 10 weeks after the third dose was administered.
Notably, updated systems for existing vaccines such as influenza viruses already exist. The World Health Organization (WHO) has a team of experts that meets twice a year to recommend ingredients for the next season of vaccines, making it easier for health regulators in countries to follow up. There are also more than 100 laboratories and five WHO collaborating centres around the world conducting year-round surveillance, testing thousands of virus samples and predicting how the next influenza strain will develop.
However, there are some complications with the influenza vaccine model that replicates the coronavirus, especially given the Omicron variant.
Complete News Source : Hindustan Times
Music
Korean soloist IU sues ex-classmate and 180 others over online harassment, deepfakes, and slander
IU’s agency, EDAM, reports ongoing court proceedings and additional charges as they address severe online threats against her.
Korean singer-songwriter IU, also known as Lee Ji Eun, has taken decisive legal action against over 180 individuals involved in cyberbullying. These legal proceedings, initiated in 2023, are ongoing, with some cases already reaching the formal court hearing stage, according to the recent update from the agency.
The accusations against these individuals range from severe harassment, including threats and defamation, to the creation and distribution of harmful deepfake content. IU’s agency has cited the gravity of these offenses, which they believe meet the criteria for criminal charges
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IU files legal lawsuit against 180 individuals over cyber bullying
K-pop idols and celebrities frequently face online harassment, often seen as the darker side of fandom culture. In some cases, cyberstalking escalates to the point where idols are subjected to physical threats. On November 11 (KST), EDAM issued a statement announcing they had filed complaints citing severe harassment cases.
“Our agency, in collaboration with a law firm, has filed complaints targeting those who have engaged in criminal acts, including threats, defamation, malicious false accusations of plagiarism, death threats, privacy violations, sexual harassment, distribution of obscene content, creation and distribution of illegal deepfake materials and other illegal activities,” EDAM ent said in an official statement according to the Korea Times.
IU sues ex-classmate for cyber bullying
According to insiders, in addition to the 180 lawsuits already filed, more charges are lined up. One individual accused in the case also involves the singer’s former classmate. “Among them, there is one individual who is presumed to be a middle school classmate of IU. Despite the ongoing case, it has been found that they continue to harass IU. So, we are responding,” EDAM said.
The case which grabbed a lot of limelight back in 2023 resulted in a major controversy and has so far resulted in six fines, three cases with mandatory education, and one case with probation, according to the agency. Among these cases are accusations from April and May last year, where the singer was targeted with baseless claims of plagiarism.
EDAM also highlighted a particular case where IU faced serious online harassment, including false rumors, sexual harassment, and death threats. Prosecutors have requested a fine of 3 million won (about $2,240) for the person involved. The individual is reportedly appealing the sentence, with a formal trial yet to take place.
EDAM revealed that it has collaborated with “relevant” sources to track individuals using foreign IP addresses or living abroad in attempts to avoid legal trouble. In one case, a suspect accused IU of espionage, claiming she was a spy. However, progress has been delayed as the suspect has continually refused to appear for questioning. This case has now been handed over to the prosecution for further investigation.
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