One of the earliest, peer-reviewed studies looking into the Omicron variant of COVID-19 suggests that people previously infected with COVID, and those vaccinated, will have some, “stronger than basic” defense against this new strain of concern.

However, the test tube (or ‘in-vitro’, scientifically) samples of Omicron examined in this new research do show it “exceeds” all other variants in its potential capability to evade the protection gained from previous infection or vaccination.

Published inEmerging Microbes & Infections, the findings also suggest that although a third-dose enhancement strategy can “significantly boost immunity”, the protection from Omicron “may be compromised” – but more research is needed to better understand this.

Reporting on this very early study, lead author Youchun Wang, Senior Research Fellow from the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control in China, says their results support recent findings in South Africa which highlight Omicron was “easy to evade immunity”.

“We found the large number of mutations of the Omicron variant did cause significant changes of neutralization sensitivity against people who had already had COVID,” Wang says.

Release date: 12 December 2021
Source: Taylor & Francis Group

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