The BA.2 subvariant of the Omicron coronavirus variant does not appear to be any more severe than the original BA.1 subvariant, stated an official of the World Health Organization.

Dr. Boris Pavlin of the WHO′s COVID-19 Response Team also said that vaccines seem to provide similar protection against different forms of Omicron. The statement came as the BA.2 subvariant has started replacing the original BA.1 subvariant in several countries, like Denmark. Data from Denmark, the first country where BA.2 surpassed BA.1, suggest that there seems to be no difference in severity between the two subvariants; however, BA.2 can potentially replace BA.1 on a global level.

A study looking at COVID-19 infections in over 8,500 Danish households from December to January noted that BA.2 is more transmissible than BA.1 and has more potential to infect the vaccinated. 

Pavlin mentioned that the subvariant is becoming dominant in the Philippines, Nepal, India, Qatar, and Denmark… (Reuters, February 2, 2022)