![]() ![]() Research by the National Institutes of Health in the US has shown that antibodies produced by COVID vaccines are more likely to recognise variations in the virus spike protein than those generated by natural immunity. The big question now is what happens in a population, like the UK's, where vaccination rates are high. The effect of reinfections on the current wave in South Africa will be much the same. So Omicron can spread, even in a population with very high levels of natural immunity.Īlthough the variant doesn't seem to be more inherently transmissible than Delta. And this shows that is indeed the case.Ī reinfection rate more than twice as high as in the first wave with the original Wuhan virus is quite astonishing – particularly when you consider that the Beta and Delta variants didn't have that biological superpower. Some predicted that our antibodies may not be good enough to prevent infection. Scientists have been puzzling over the real-world effect of the variant's constellation of mutations. And it has worrying implications for the rest of the world. We now have the first strong insight to what's driving Omicron's rise in South Africa. "With previous variants, epidemiological studies showed that protection against severe disease from other variants was better maintained than protection against infection."Īnalysis: Thomas Moore, science correspondent "The other big uncertainty is whether this increases the risk of severe disease, hospital admissions and deaths. "But, the degree is still unclear, though it is doubtful that this will represent complete escape. Professor Paul Hunter, of The Norwich School of Medicine, University of East Anglia, said: "The implications of this paper are that Omicron will be able to overcome natural and probably vaccine induced immunity to a significant degree. "Immune escape from prior infection, whether or not Omicron can also evade vaccine derived immunity, has important implications for public health globally." ![]() The researchers say: "We find evidence of a substantial and ongoing increase in the risk of reinfection that is temporally consistent with the timing of the emergence of the Omicron variant in South Africa, suggesting that its selection advantage is at least partially driven by an increased ability to infect previously infected individuals. Would we shut down again? What will the United States do the next time a deadly virus comes knocking on the door?įor the latest news, sign up for our free newsletter. Here’s what you need to know about Arcturus. The latest omicron offshoot is particularly prevalent in India. 1.16, has been designated as a “variant under monitoring” by the World Health Organization. New covid variant: A new coronavirus subvariant, XBB. Here’s who should get the second covid booster and when. The latest on coronavirus boosters: The FDA cleared the way for people who are at least 65 or immune-compromised to receive a second updated booster shot for the coronavirus. Tracking covid cases, deaths: Covid-19 was the fourth leading cause of death in the United States last year with covid deaths dropping 47 percent between 20. Here’s what the end of the covid public health emergency means for you. End of the public health emergency: The Biden administration ended the public health emergency for the coronavirus pandemic on May 11, just days after WHO said it would no longer classify the coronavirus pandemic as a public health emergency. ![]()
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