While it remains the case that we still do not know enough about the likelihood of serious illness in those infected by Omicron, new evidence is beginning to show that most of the main vaccines in use do little to nothing to stop the spread of Omicron, although providing a significant protection from serious illness. The Chinese vaccines Sinopharm and Sinovac – which make up almost half of all shots delivered globally – offer almost zero protection from Omicron infection.

Only Pfizer and Moderna shots, when reinforced by a booster, the new research shows, appear to be effective in stemming infection, presenting a particular challenge to the developing world where they are in short supply and where, anyway, pressure is on still to achieve initial vaccination while booster programmes among the most vulnerable are not the priority. Just 13 per cent of people in Africa have received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine.

The need for measures to encourage vaccination is more essential than ever

Hospital Report

The danger is that people infected asymptomatically or with mild cases can pass the virus on to unvaccinated people, who could fall more severely ill, and even become a source of new variants.

Scientists also fear that early, unconfirmed reports from South Africa suggesting that Omicron is less likely to produce serious illness, may lead to complacency, particularly among the young, that could set back vaccination campaigns that have surged in the wake of the new variant. The need for measures to encourage vaccination is more essential than ever – vaccine sceptics, of whatever persuasion, need to understand that there will be consequences as a result of non-vaccination, whether only denial of access to a concert or hospitality venue. Such restrictions are as much about driving the vaccination campaign as immediate safety at these venues.

Taoiseach rules out further coronavirus restrictions before Christmas

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Northern Executive to meet to discuss further Covid-19 measures

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Johnson rules out further Covid restrictions in England before Christmas

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Young people on Covid: ‘The burden of responsibility is always on the same groups’

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The US public remains deeply vulnerable, not only to Omicron infection but to serious complications

The massive surge in Omicron infections, even if leading to proportionately fewer hospitalisations, can still overwhelm health systems by sheer numbers. The pressures on overstretched hospitals have already begun to build, with many health staff complaining that large proportions of new admissions are of the unvaccinated.

Omicron is now the dominant version of the novel coronavirus in the US, federal health officials said on Monday, racing ahead of Delta and other variants and accounting for 73 per cent of new infections last week, and 90 per cent in the New York area, the south-east, the industrial midwest and the Pacific north-west. It accounted for less than 1 per cent of new Covid-19 cases in the US as December began.

The US public remains deeply vulnerable, not only to Omicron infection but to serious complications. Of fully vaccinated adults only about 30 per cent have received a booster. And among all Americans, only about one in six has received a booster.