The Omicron variant can still cause infection in people that have both received the COVID-19 vaccine and have have previously had the virus, one expert says.
Dr Angelique Coetzee, chairperson of the South African Medical Association, told CNN on Wednesday that she has seen multiple people with both types of immunity test positive for the virus.
However, she did mention that vaccines are effective in preventing serious Covid infections. More than 90% of ICU patients at the Pretoria medical center where she works, were not vaccinated.
This variant was discovered by national officials last month. Due to its multiple mutations, it is thought to be extremely infectious and can bypass vaccination immunity.
Pfizer officials reported Wednesday that the vaccine’s ability to prevent Omicron infection had declined. However, an additional booster shot may have been recommended.
South Africa also saw a significant increase in Covid cases after the Omicron variant was discovered. Officials continue to state that Omicron infections are usually less severe than other variants.

Chairperson of South Africa Medical Association Dr Angelique Coetzee (right) stated that she had seen COVID-19 victims in her clinic who are both vaccinated, and also have natural immunity to the virus from previous infections. The Omicron variant is able to bypass the two types of protection, according to previous data.

Since the Omicron COVID-19 mutation was discovered last month, South Africa (green) has seen a huge spike in Covid cases along with other countries.
Coetzee stated that 64 Covid patients have been treated at her hospital with confirmed cases or suspected cases. Many of these cases are outpatients and not considered severe.
Of the 64, 37 are unvaccinated, 26 were breakthrough infections, with 19 having received the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and seven receiving the Johnson & Johnson shot.
Four of those breakthrough infections were among people that had also contracted Covid before, two who had received the Pfizer vaccine and two that had gotten the J&J shot.
The vaccines were also relatively new. Three of the participants had received their final shots in late July or August. A third was given the last dose in October.
These people are not eligible to receive a COVID-19 boost shot in America if they have received the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines. Officials recommend that the booster shot be administered six months later than the completion of the sequence.


These cases may be mild but Coetzee states that it is a warning sign of how contagious the variant can be.
Omicron was discovered for the first time in South Africa, in Gauteng in November. More than 77 Omicron mutants were found.
This is the most mutationally-affected Covid strain to date, with over 50 of them found on spike protein, which will be used in vaccines. It has the potential to escape vaccines.
Experts from South Africa concluded last week that any natural anti-virals provided by Covid infected individuals are ineffective at fighting the variant.
A Tuesday study by the African Health Research Institute, (AHRI), also showed that those who received Pfizer’s vaccine but not booster had 40x less Omicron-preventive antibodies than people who got other versions.
Although the study is still in preprint and awaiting peer-review it represents the first scientific evidence to suggest that vaccines may be less effective against this variant.
Pfizer released data on Wednesday morning showing that its jab was less effective against this variant. However, it stated that it has received boosters to increase protection.
However, the company was unable to say whether it could still prevent death from serious infection or hospitalization by administering only two doses.

Researchers from Africa discovered that vaccines made by Pfizer had 40 times fewer Covid antibodies that fight the Omicron strain of the Omicron virus than other varieties. It may have been less effective at protecting against infection.

South Africa’s green population has a lower rate of vaccination than its counterparts. Less than 30% are fully vaccinated.
According to Coetzee, it appears that these protections are not combined effective in preventing the infection.
Although she believes that vaccine-vaccinated individuals are more likely to experience severe cases than others, she encourages them to have the shots in order to avoid the variant.
‘For now, [the vaccines]Still protects against severe diseases, she stated.
South Africa has a lower rate of vaccination than other European countries.
Only 30% of South Africans have been fully vaccinated against Covid compared with 60% of Americans and 70% of Britons.
Low vaccination rates in Africa can often be blamed on a lack of resources or access. However, this is not true in South Africa.
Due to its current stockpile, the nation was forced to decline some vaccine shipments.

A Covid spike is currently raging in the country, with more than 11,000 cases per hour, three times as many cases as the previous 3,000 daily cases logged two weeks ago.
UK is home to 568 of these cases.
Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of Boris Johnson stated Wednesday that while it is possible for this figure to be higher, there may still be 10,000.
To counter this threat, he established clear guidelines that included mask mandates and work at home orders. He also increased contact tracing efforts.