Covid-19 vaccines are working against newer variants in preventing severe disease, the Chair of Biochemistry at Trinity College has said.
Professor Luke O'Neill said the Covid variant, Omicron XE, is a mutation, but is mainly like the BA. 2 strain. He said vaccinations are still working on the newer variants and so far there has only been one case in Ireland of XE.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Philip Boucher-Hayes, Prof O'Neill said XE has three extra mutations that are brand new, which means "we need to watch it very closely".
The new form of the virus, known as Omicron XE, is a recombinant of the Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 variants. The Department of Health has said that as of 8 April, one case of the XE variant has been reported in the Republic of Ireland to date, in a travel-associated case with a specimen date in February 2022.