ECDC encourages the use of this protocol as a basis for studies aiming at assessing vaccine effectiveness in semi-closed settings following the identification of a COVID-19 outbreak, as its use in the EU/EEA can facilitate results comparability from different outbreak investigations.
As of 6 December and since 5 December 2021, 30 additional SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern (VOC) cases have been confirmed in the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA), contributing to an overall total of 212 confirmed cases to date.
The number of countries reporting SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant of concern (VOC) cases continues to increase globally, with a total of 352 confirmed cases reported by 27 countries as of 16.00 on 1 December 2021, including 70 confirmed cases reported by 13 European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) countries.
As of 2 December 2021, and since 1 December 2021, 20 additional SARS-CoV-2 Omicron VOC cases have been confirmed, bringing the total to 79 confirmed cases.
This technical report provides a set of interim public health considerations to support EU/EEA public health authorities taking decisions on the administration of COVID-19 vaccines to children aged 5 11 years.
On 1 December, ECDC published Interim Public Health Considerations for COVID-19 Vaccination of Children following EMA’s human medicines committee (CHMP) recommendation from 25 November to grant an extension of indication for the COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty, to include use in children aged 5 to 11 years.
A SARS-CoV-2 variant belonging to Pango lineage B.1.1.529, with a high number of S-gene mutations compared to the original virus was detected at the beginning of November 2021. On 26 November 2021 the variant was designated a variant of concern (VOC) and assigned the label Omicron by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) published a new Threat Assessment Brief on the new variant of concern (VOC) B.1.1.529, or Omicron. Based on currently available genetic information, the risks of this VOC are high, according to preliminary data.
A new study by the WHO Regional Office for Europe and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) published in Eurosurveillance estimates that 470,000 lives have been saved among those aged 60 years and over since the start of COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in 33 countries across the WHO European Region.