As explained by the Oxford University, there was no evidence that vaccines would not prevent severe disease from Omicron, but that it was ready to rapidly develop an updated version of its vaccine developed with AstraZeneca if necessary.

Specialists´ statement aroused some optimism amid panic that is spreading worldwide, and especially after a director of the US pharmaceutical company Moderna said on Tuesday that it was unlikely the vaccines could protect people from Omicron variant.

The World Health Organization (WHO), which described Omicron as a variant of concern, and members of the scientific community consider, in turn, that it will take a few weeks to determine if the new strain can cause serious symptoms of Covid-19 or is capable to evade the protection offered by vaccines.

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