And this was mentioned earlier in the thread..HKU has become the first in Asia to successfully isolate Omicron, four days after the variant's first two cases were confirmed in the city and five days after it was reported by South Africa to the World Health Organization on November 24.
HKU microbiologist Yuen Kwok-yung said the partnership is aimed at producing a new generation of jabs that carry deactivated Omicron variants, but refused to disclose the name of the mainland firm as contracts have yet to be signed.
Yuen said existing vaccines - including the Beijing-made Sinovac and German-made BioNTech/Fosun available in Hong Kong -can still offer protection against Omicron infections.
He cited two cases in Hong Kong as an example, in which a South African man carrying the Omicron variant infected a Canadian staying in the opposite room at quarantine hotel Regal Airport.
Yuen said both men have received two BioNTech doses less than six months ago and only suffered mild symptoms.
"We have been doing blood tests for them. In just several days after diagnosis, their antibodies level rose tenfold, meaning mRNA vaccine [BioNTech] has made the immune system memorize the virus, triggering it to quickly produce antibodies," he said.
"This is a very good sign and once again points to the need that everybody should consider taking the vaccine as soon as possible."
https://www.thestandard.com.hk/secti...ion/11/236650/But Yuen said it is also possible that the Omicron mutations occurred in AIDS patients.