BA.2 is the latest subvariant of Omicron and the dominant strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 – making up 23% of all new cases in early March. BA.2 is considered to be more transmissible than BA.1 but not as harmful (won’t make people sicker) and BA.1 causes less severe disease than the Delta variant. It’s also thought that those infected with BA.1 could have protective immunity against BA.2. (WHO) Qatar study indicates that 2 doses of Pfizer or Moderna protects against symptomatic infection from BA.1 and BA.2 for several months before waning to 10%. A booster shot, however, brings protection back to original levels. It’s thought that vaccinations and protective immunity make it less likely that BA.2 will cause hospitalization or death.
For information only. Not medical advice. Consult with your doctor for personalized medical advice.