Do I need to be worried about the new Covid strain – and will my booster jab protect me?

These and all your other questions answered on the Pirola variant that has put the virus back in the news

IT IS the ‘most striking strain of Covid-19 since Omicron’, according to top scientists, amid fears it could evade the vaccines. The new variant, dubbed Pirola, is thought to be behind an uptick in cases across Europe.

Such is the concern that some experts are even calling for the return of face masks in hospitals and GP surgeries to protect the most vulnerable.

But how worried should we really be?

Here’s everything you need to know about the new Covid strain.

Q I thought new Covid strains appear all the time — why is everyone talking about this one?

A The main concern about Pirola — scientifically known as BA.2.86 — is that it might be able to evade the protection we have from vaccines and previous infection.

The strain has descended from Omicron but has 35 mutations on the part of the virus that the vaccines are designed to target, known as the spike protein. There are also mutations that might help Pirola evade the natural protection we have from our immune system.

If we have less immunity, it could mean a large wave of infections and more serious illness.

‘Pirola has made people sit up because of the unusually large number of mutations,’ says Professor Jonathan Ball, a virologist at the University of Nottingham.

‘Viruses naturally mutate to survive. But when there’s 30 or more mutations, scientists need to ask what that means. Does it make vaccines less effective, could it transmit more easily than Omicron and does it cause more serious disease?’

There has been some indication from small laboratory studies that Pirola may be less infectious than previous Omicron variants and may not evade the immune system, or the vaccine, as some suspected it might. But as there have only been low numbers of cases around the world, this remains to be proven.

Q How will I know if I have this strain or another one?

A You won’t. Scientists say that Pirola symptoms are indistinguishable from other Covid variants. Most people can expect to have a runny nose, sore throat, headache and fatigue.

Q Can I still get a test if I’ve got symptoms and will it pick up this new strain?

A The HSE no longer provides a service for people to book Covid-19 PCR tests or order antigen tests. But if you are a healthcare worker, you can still order antigen tests online in some situations. The current guidelines recommend you stay home for five days and avoid contact with other people after testing positive.

Packs of antigen tests can still be bought from pharmacies and some supermarkets.

Prof Ball says. ‘They won’t tell you what strain you have, but if you have Covid — regardless of the strain — the tests are designed to find it.’

Q But won’t I have protection from the vaccines, boosters and previous infection?

A Most people will have some immunity against severe disease from Pirola, even if they have not been eligible for a vaccine since the mass rollout ended in 2021.

Although vaccine immunity does wane over time, many people have also been infected by the virus too, which offers a broader protection.

A small study looking at Pirola found those who had recently had an Omicron infection had high levels of antibodies against the new strain.

‘Both vaccination and natural infection help protect us against severe disease by creating immunity with antibodies,’ says Prof Ball.

‘That means most people can expect a relatively mild infection if they get Pirola.

When the virus first emerged, we saw lots of deaths and complications, such as long Covid, but those have fallen dramatically, and that’s partly because of the vaccines and natural immunity.

‘Covid variants can still cause problems but they shouldn’t be near the scale we saw in 2020.’

Q I’m supposed to have a booster. Will it work against this new strain?

A Scientists are still investigating this. The vaccines have been updated to include another Omicron descendent — XBB.1.5 — which has been dominant in 2023.

Pfizer and Moderna said last week their updated vaccines generated ‘strong responses’ against the new Pirola strain in the lab.

‘Even if the vaccines are less effective against Pirola — which we don’t know they are — they will still offer some protection,’ says Prof Ball. ‘Pirola may have 35 mutations but there are many parts of the spike protein that the immune system does recognise. The virus will find it impossible to change all of those to evade it completely.’

Q Can I now get a booster vaccine?

A booster dose will be offered in autumn if you are:

Aged 50 and older;

Aged five or older with a weak immune system;

Aged five to 49 with a condition that puts you at high risk of serious illness from Covid-19;

A healthcare worker.

If you’re due a booster, you can go to a participating pharmacy, go to your GP if they are offering Covid-19 vaccination or call HSE Live on 1800 700 700 to find out where is offering vaccines near you. Some people have not had their first booster. At least one booster is recommended for people age 18 and older, and it’s available to people age 12 and older.