Results “Milder” SARS-COV-2 Omicron variants are likely because more population immunity compared to the previous wave of pandemic rather than the nature of the virus, according to a paper by William Hanage, Associate Professor of Epidemiology and colleague Director of the Dynamics of Infectious Disease in Harvard Th Th of Chan School of Public Health, and Roby Bhattacharya, Assistant Professor at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School and Associate members at the Extensive Institute of Mit and Harvard.
Perspective articles published online Wednesday, February 2, 2022 in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The omicron variant was first documented in Botswana and South Africa at the end of November, 2021. Although the three waves of previous infections and vaccination programs were initiated in mid 2021, their variants quickly spread to all South African populations. Compared to the previous variant, Omicron resulted in the rate of hospitalization and lower death, some lead to conclude that the variant caused less severe results or less previously variants.
Hanage and Bhattacharyya calculated that the severity of omicron infection felt lower is likely because of the factors associated with immune levels in infected people. In the fall of 2021, most South African populations were vaccinated or may be infected by other variants during the previous wave of pandemic. This previous exposure would likely reduce the severity of the next omicron infection. Lighter symptoms must also be partly because of the ability of omicrons to cause a breakthrough of infection and reinfection, including those who have a stronger immune system and are therefore better equipped to fight infection, according to researchers.
They warn that the situation in South Africa is intrinsically different from other countries – especially the young age of the population – which means that Omicron can develop differently in other populations throughout the world.
Based on their analysis, Hanage and Bhattacharyya emphasized that as much as possible domestic and global people must be vaccinated, and those who are most susceptible to disease must receive a third booster shot.