January 1, Study: Past COVID Infection May Not Deter Omicron

Scientists in South Africa reported that reinfections among COVID-19 patients appear to be more likely with the omicron variant than with previous mutations.

The findings are preliminary and haven’t yet been scientifically reviewed, nor did the researchers say what portion of reinfections were confirmed as omicron cases. They also didn’t specify if the reinfections caused serious illness.

“Previous infection used to protect against delta, and now with omicron it doesn’t seem to be the case,” said one of the researchers, Anne von Gottberg of the University of Witwatersrand.

The study didn’t examine the protection offered by COVID-19 vaccination.

“We believe that vaccines will still, however, protect against severe disease,” von Gottberg said.

The study suggests “omicron will be able to overcome natural and probably vaccine-induced immunity to a significant degree,” Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, said in a written response to the research. By how much “is still unclear though it is doubtful that this will represent complete escape.”

Source:

Study suggests past COVID infection may not fend off omicron