Coronavirus Omicron variant causes more breakthrough infection and protection against re-infection is estimated at 56% – this is what new study says.

According to data analyzed by Qatari experts, those who have already been diagnosed with coronavirus are more prone to Omicron.

In this study, the researchers looked at data about Covid-19 laboratory testing, vaccination, clinical infections, and demographics from the national SARS-CoV-2 databases.

These databases include all the results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing, vaccinations, hospitalizations, and deaths for Covid-19 in Qatar since the pandemic began.

The median age was between 31 to 35.

The study found that previous natural infection protects against Omicron re-infection by only 56%. In contrast, the previous infection protected 90.2% of re-infections from the alpha mutation, 85.7% from beta and 92% from delta infections, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

However, “protection against reinfection with the omicron variant was lower (approximately 60%) but still considerable,” write researchers from the University of Qatar and other institutions.

People who claim to be infected with other coronavirus strains are 87.8% less likely to become seriously ill or die from Omicron, which escapes the immunity offered by the vaccine.  

However, even in this case, the probability of serious infection and death is much lower than in the unvaccinated.

The article is under update…

Source: 10.1056/NEJMc2200133

Image Credit: Getty

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