Omicron to Become Dominant COVID-19 Variant in Iran from Next Week
Two specialists and an official in Iran have expressed dissatisfaction with coronavirus vaccination rates, particularly regarding the third dose. Dr. Minoo Mohraz stated that if Omicron infections increase, there is also a possibility of deaths from this variant.
According to ISNA news agency citing the secretary of the Epidemiology and Research Committee of the National Scientific Committee for Combating COVID-19, 40 percent of current coronavirus infections in Iran are infected with the Omicron variant.
Dr. Masoud Yonesian said: “The percentage of Omicron infections and the number of cases in the country are increasing, and it appears we have received signals of a sixth wave, and if these conditions continue, Omicron will become the dominant virus in the country next week.”
According to this official, compliance with health protocols has severely decreased and the government has not intensified restrictions. He said: “Neither has the government intensified restrictions nor have people cooperated. When the government is not strict, people don’t cooperate either.”
“Vaccination is not in good condition”
The secretary of the Epidemiology and Research Committee of the National Scientific Committee for Combating COVID-19 expressed dissatisfaction with the vaccination situation in Iran and said: “Neither did second-dose vaccination happen as it should, nor did third-dose vaccination. There is a gap between the second and third doses that is somewhat concerning.”
Dr. Yonesian considered the first and second doses of coronavirus vaccine “essential for combating this disease” and recommended that the third dose must be administered, but according to him, the third dose has not been well-received, and therefore according to him, one cannot be reassured about preventing Omicron.
The secretary of the Epidemiology Committee stated that so far, 72 percent of Iran’s total population and 90 percent of the eligible population (those over 12 years old) have received the first dose of coronavirus vaccine.
According to him, the second dose has been administered to 63 percent of the total population and 80 percent of eligible individuals over 12 years old. This is while only 15 percent of Iran’s total population and 18 percent of eligible individuals over 12 years old have received the third dose of coronavirus vaccine.
“We have entered a new wave”
Dr. Minoo Mohraz, a member of the Scientific Committee of the Coronavirus Combat Headquarters, said: “We have entered a new wave and will reach the peak in approximately 3 to 4 weeks.”
According to Mizan news agency, Dr. Mohraz also expressed dissatisfaction with vaccination rates and said: “Millions of people in the country have not yet received the third dose of COVID vaccine.”
This infectious disease specialist emphasized that if Omicron infection cases increase, “there is also a possibility of deaths from infection with this variant.” He attributed the reason that in European and American countries, despite the prevalence of Omicron, there are not many hospitalizations, to the high percentage of people who have received the third dose of coronavirus vaccine.
20 deaths in the past 24 hours
According to an announcement by the Public Relations and Information Center of the Ministry of Health, from yesterday to today, December 27, three thousand 163 new COVID-19 patients were identified in Iran, of whom 338 were hospitalized.
As a result, the total number of COVID-19 patients in Iran has reached 6 million, 224 thousand, and 196 people.
In the past 24 hours, 20 COVID-19 patients lost their lives and the total number of deaths reached 132 thousand and 95 people.
Source: DW
