Coronavirus vaccine and COVID variant updates for 12-08-2021

<p>This is Vaccine 411, the latest coronavirus vaccine information for December 8th, 2021.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The World Health Organization's office for Europe said kids 5 to 14 now account for the highest infection rates in the region. Overall cases and deaths have more than doubled in the last two months in the 53-country region, and the Omicron variant has been seen in 21 of those 53 countries.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Early data out of South Africa suggests the Pfizer vaccine appears to be less effective against Omicron. Researchers found there was about a fortyfold reduction in vaccine-induced antibodies that could neutralize the new variant. That means Omicron seems more skilled at evading the antibodies generated by Pfizer than the beta variant, which only saw a threefold reduction. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>More home COVID testing is good right? The US administration is even talking about reimbursing home test kit purchases. But is it? Some health officials are pointing out that tests taken at home, regardless of whether they’re positive or negative, never get reported and that is going to make tracking COVID data, which was already a challenge, even harder. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Speaking of testing, the FDA says the Omicron variant may be more successful at evading tests for it. There are three kinds of tests, serology or blood antibodies, antigen, and PCR. If there are enough mutations in a variant, Omicron has 32 of them, that could generate more false negatives.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Here’s the latest thing people are saying can help with COVID, seaweed. Well, actually sea lettuce. Lab experiments show an extract of this algae could be beneficial in the pandemic fight. Other studies of other edible seaweed have shown promise but this one has been tested specifically as an antiviral treatment against certain viruses. Scientists say more seaweed tests are needed to be sure. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>In the United States cases were up 28%, deaths are up 13%, and hospitalizations are up 18% over 14 days. The 7-day average of ne