Dr. Pavlovic: "We fear Omicron strain, previous infection, and booster is not complete protection"

Printscreen: RTS

Dr. Aleksandra Pavlovic, head of the Endoscopy Service and a director in the Clinical Hospital Center Dr Dragisa Misovic, says that the health care system is afraid of the Omicron strain. She added that it will come back to haunt us that measures are not respected while those violating them are not sanctioned.

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She told RTS that there has been concern over the Omicron strain since it appeared.

"Obviously, the whole world is facing the same danger, it is probably already in Serbia, because it has been registered in our environment," Pavlovic said.

According to her, there is very contradictory information coming from professional literature that this strain is milder.

"Even if it is, then it is more transmissible. The possibility of infecting many people means that the health system is inevitably burdened. This will definitely refill hospitals with patients and we are very afraid of that," said Dr. Aleksandra Pavlovic.

She added that initial information shows that this strain has a higher possibility of reinfection.

"Previous infection is not protection, with this strain no one has complete protection, neither the vaccinated nor those who received a booster dose, this variant has the ability to avoid our immunity, regardless of whether it was acquired naturally or by vaccine. We must be clear that no one is protected, vaccination helps and people must adhere to the measures," she said.

It seems that we in Serbia have that style of "sticking our heads in the sand," Pavlovic added.

"That is irresponsible behavior towards ourselves and towards the health system and towards some patients who have done some therapies in the last month. We do not know when we will be able to provide them with what they need," Dr. Aleksandra Pavlovic stressed.

She mentioned that we have to apply existing measures and sanction those who violate them.

"We're not doing that, neither the application nor the sanctions. It's very liberal here and it will come back to haunt us," she said.

(Telegraf.rs)