Omicron, found in Europe before S Africa, jolts markets on vax fears

Dutch authorities said the variant had been detected in the Netherlands as early as November 19

The financial markets and oil prices fell sharply on Tuesday after the head of drugmaker Moderna said existing Covid-19 vaccines would be less effective against the new Omicron variant. They were in the red despite reassuring comments from European officials and top executives of other vaccine makers who said all of the people infected are asymptomatic or showing only mild symptoms.
 
Oxford University, too, said there’s no evidence that the new omicron variant defeats the vaccine it developed with AstraZeneca, contrasting with more pessimistic views put forward by some other shot makers like Moderna and Regeneron.
 
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