Omicron variant and increased risk of reinfection

As per experts, Omicron reinfection is possible. Omicron variant is new variant and In India reinfection with Omicron is yet to see but it in a person with weak immune system reinfection is possible. However, while assessing for reinfection sensitivity of RTPCR should not be overlooked as varying sensitivity of PCR could also be the reason behind Omicron reinfections. Study found that prior infection provide 85% protection against a reinfection for approximately six months and with Omicron infection it as low as 19 per cent.

//www.downtoearth.org.in/news/health/omicron-reinfection-how-likely-is-it-experts-weigh-in-81222

As per several studies, it is suggested that Omicron virus has a greater transmission rate than previous strains of COVID-19. It is it's heavily mutated structure that makes it more infectious. Since it can invade into a human body much easily, along with that comes the greater risk of re-infection.

In a recent study, conducted by Imperial College of London COVID-19 response team, it is estimated that chances of Omicron re-infection is 5.4 times greater than Delta variant re-infection. It is also estimated that it escapes the immunity built by COVID-19 vaccinations by a much larger percentage. 

It is also observed that African community is more venerable to Omicron infection. However, research on which community or age group is more likely to get re-infected by Omicron is still ongoing. I am attaching the study report below for your reference.

Reference-

//www.imperial.ac.uk/news/232698/omicron-largely-evades-immunity-from-past/#:~:text=The%20new%20report%20(Report%2049,be%20as%20low%20as%2019%25.

This study is a retrospective analysis of the epidemiological survey data with the objective to examine if SARS-CoV-2 reinfection risk has changed through time in South Africa, in the context of the emergence of the Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants. They provide a population level evidence that the Omicron variant has an increased ability to infect previously infected individuals.

//www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.11.11.21266068v2.full.pdf

An extensive study is still being done on the Omicron variant first identified by South African scientists on 27^th November 2021 but the possibility of reinfection is a concerning matter for public health professionals worldwide.

The variant seems to be more transmissible because of its spike protein mutations and there have been cases where it has been found to evade the host’s immune system and even affect vaccinated individuals.

Reference:

//www.news-medical.net/news/20211206/Omicron-variant-increases-risk-of-SARS-CoV-2-reinfection.aspx