Update on Omicron variant and its threat to vulnerable populations

Objective

To reduce the incidence of severe illness and fatalities, and promote the awareness of protection and precaution, increased vaccination, strengthen the physical fitness, frequent ventilation, and health education should be enhanced among vulnerable populations as essential measures for the future control of COVID-19.

Study design

Systematic review.

Method

The search was done using PubMed, EMBASE and Web of Science for studies without language restrictions, published up through March 2023, since their authoritative and comprehensive literature search database. Eighty articles were included. Extraction of articles and quality assessment of included reviews was performed independently by two authors using the AMSTAR 2 score.

Results

The articles in the final data set included research on epidemiological characteristics, pathogenicity, available vaccines, treatments and epidemiological features in special populations including the elders, pregnant women, kids, people with chronic diseases concerning Omicron.

Conclusion

Although less pathogenic potential is found in Omicron, highly mutated forms have enhanced the ability of immune evasion and resistance to existing vaccines compared with former variants. Severe complications and outcomes may occur in vulnerable populations. Infected pregnant women are more likely to give birth prematurely, and fatal implications in children infected with Omicron are hyperimmune response and severe neurological disorders. In immunocompromised patients, there is a greater reported mortality and complication compared to patients with normal immune systems. Therefore, maintain social distancing, wear masks, and receive vaccinations are effective long-term measures.