Jabs are coping with new strain

VACCINES already being administered to the public will combat the new Omicron strain of Covid-19, scientists have said.

The World Health Organisation’s emergencies director Dr Mike Ryan said existing jabs would still offer protection from the virus.

Researchers in South Africa – where Omicron was first detected – had claimed that the bug could partially evade the Pfizer vaccine. They said there had been a “very large drop” in how the jag’s antibodies blocked the strain.

But Dr Ryan said: “We have highly effective vaccines that have proved effective against all the variants so far in terms of severe disease and hospitalisation.”