Omicron Offers Little Protective Immunity: UC Berkeley Expert
BERKELEY, CA — Omicron infections don’t appear to convey much protective immunity compared to other coronavirus variants, a UC Berkeley expert told NBC Bay Area.
High reinfection rates show that omicron has the ability to elude the immune system, Dr. John Swartzberg told the television station.
“We're seeing second cases of omicron more often in people who didn't get vaccinated than in people who have been vaccinated, but second cases of omicron in both cases,” Swartzberg said.
“We hardly saw any breakthrough infections with any of the variants until omicron,” Swartzberg said. “So clearly our immune system doesn't do as well against omicron as it has done against other variants.”
Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of Brown’s School of Public Health, said the notion that infection-induced immunity can provide protection has proven to be a deadly misconception, and is urging all who haven’t done so yet to get vaccinated and boosted.
“Recently saw patient for COVID round 2,” Jha tweeted.
“Had COVID last spring with long hospital stay Now admitted with reinfection. Unvaccinated He couldn't believe he had COVID again Had been told he had life-long immunity The misinformation on infection-induced immunity is costing lives.”
This article originally appeared on the Berkeley Patch
