Many vaccinated Americans may find solace in this early data, which suggests that Omicron may not be as dangerous as previously thought. People who were vaccinated and boosted or who were just infected with Omicron were more likely to produce a strong and diversified immune reaction to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus than those who were simply infected with Omicron. Additionally, the data might imply that a new booster, potentially tailored to Omicron, would be more successful in providing long-term protection.
New studies
Two new studies report similar findings. Biomarkers of immunity to COVID, such as virus-specific antibodies as well as immune cells, were sought for in blood samples taken from a variety of individuals. Persons who had previously received two or three doses of Omicron vaccine; people who had previously received the classic virus or the Delta version; and people who had not received any vaccinations were all included in these groups.
Individuals who had been vaccinated with Omicron seemed to have the most anti-Omicron antibodies, as well as anti-antigens against the Omicron, SARS, SARS-CoV-2, and Delta viruses. These people’s memory B-cells, the cells that produce new antibodies when responding to a familiar pathogen, showed the same pattern. Omicron-infected unvaccinated persons, however, were unable to generate a wide-ranging defense against the virus.
These Omicron-infected and vaccinated persons also had neutralizing antibodies in their nostrils, which might help protect them from future infections. It was also discovered an antibody that proved to be particularly effective against a variety of viruses, and this antibody could be replicated in the lab for future investigation as a possible cure.
Due to the lack of peer review, the conclusions of both articles should be taken with a grain of salt. The previous study has shown that patients with hybrid immunity—the outcome of being vaccinated and then infected with the coronavirus—can generate a larger immune response when they are infected with various coronavirus types. Unvaccinated persons who have Omicron infection, on the other hand, do not seem to build long-term immunity to other strains of the virus, according to previous studies
