The vriant Omicron has a great ability to evade immunity acquired by previous coronavirus infection. As Dr. Tayeb Hamdi, researcher in health systems and policies, contacted by us, reminds us, the risk of being reinfected by Omicron does exist. It is even 5.2 times higher than with Delta.
Information about Covid-19 and Omicron invades our daily lives with their share of uncertainties. One of the questions that still deserves clarification is the following: is a previous infection with the coronavirus an immunizing factor against the Omicron variant? In other words, is the Omicron capable of escaping the immunity acquired by a previous infection? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), people who have already had Covid-19 may be reinfected more easily with Omicron, compared to other variants of concern.
Found by “Le Matin”, Tayeb Hamdi, doctor and researcher in health systems, confirms this information: “The risk of being reinfected with Omicron is 5.2 times higher than with Delta. Omicron easily escapes immunity acquired by previous infection with Covid-19 or other strains. A finding that is also shared by South African researchers who have demonstrated in a clinical trial that Omicron has a significant ability to evade the immune system of people previously infected with Sars-CoV-2. . But one thing is certain: the immunity already acquired before reinfection with the Omicron variant can prevent us from serious forms of the disease and death, reassures our interlocutor. “There is growing evidence that the decline in Covid-19 lethality observed with Omicron is due to vaccine immunity or immunity acquired by prior infection,” argues the scientist. Another important point raised by the expert is that relating to the vaccination schedule and the need to respect it from start to finish. Dr Hamdi invites anyone to complete their vaccination schedule consisting of three anti-Covid injections to protect themselves against this virus. And for people infected between the second and third dose, the expert provides the following clarification: “A ne infection occurring after the second dose does not exempt you from taking the booster dose, which must be taken on its scheduled date, respecting, however, if necessary, the usual period of four weeks between infection and vaccination”.
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