New coronavirus variant Omicron is likely to reinfect three times more compared to Delta and Beta strains, South African scientists say
The study based on data collected by the country's health system provides the first epidemiological evidence about Omicron's ability to evade immunity from prior infection.
There were 35,670 suspected reinfections among 2.8 million individuals with positive tests until November 27. Cases were considered reinfections if they tested positive 90 days apart. Pulliam cautioned that the authors did not have information about the individuals' vaccination status and therefore could not assess to what extent Omicron evades vaccine-induced immunity. The researchers plan to study this next.
Earlier, top South African scientist Anne von Gottberg, an expert at the National Institute for Communicable Diseases, forecast a surge in cases but said authorities expected vaccines would still be effective against severe outcomes.
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