Omicron and its subtype variants appear to have evolved some ability to evade immunity, making them susceptible to multiple infections even after multiple doses of the vaccine. Some scientists pointed out that compared with the previous mutants, Omicron has a higher rate of repeated infection, and even repeated infections within a few months, because the mutants can evade human defenses, and may even face 2 to 3 waves of epidemics every year, the virus seems to No signs of fading away.
After patients recover, protection against Omicron is much lower, according to a study from Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, published in The New England Journal. of Medicine, NEJM), the study also found that after 279 days of infection, the protection against repeated infection of different strains was Alpha 90.2%, Beta 85.7%, Delta 92%, and Omicron 56%.
In addition, of the superinfection cases, 5 developed severe disease, but none were critical or died. This also shows that although the probability of repeated infection of Omicron is high, it can still effectively prevent repeated infection from becoming severe. In response to such a situation, Juliet Pulliam, a professor of epidemiology at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, said, “This may become a long-term pattern. The virus will continue to evolve. Many people may be reinfected many times in their lifetime. , many times”.
In addition, Kristian Andersen, a virologist at the Scripps Research Institute, a California medical research institute, also pointed out, “If we manage (the epidemic) the way we are now, most people will suffer at least a year. Infected several times”. Fortunately, most Omicron patients are not too severe, and after 2 to 3 doses of the vaccine, most people are not so severe that they need to be hospitalized, but the study also believes that it is currently necessary to know how easily Omicron can lead to long-term new crowns. It is still too early, and many experts suggest that in order to catch up with the evolution of the virus, the public should still be vaccinated frequently.
