Can a patient get omicron for the second time?

Covid-19, its variants and consequences leave many doubts, because the disease is very new. Among the latest questions is whether a person already infected with the micronized variant can be re-infected.

Experts point out that research on the topic is still in progress – the variant began circulating at the end of November – but the possibility may be real.

The technical lead for covid-19 at the World Health Organization, Maria Van Kerkhove, said on Tuesday (01) that the alternative Omicron, the most contagious, continues to spread throughout the world, The dynasty is becoming dominant in more and more countriesTake the space of the delta.

According to the authority, the most important thing in facing this is for people to realize that the virus continues to spread, hence the need to maintain measures to contain the problem.

For infectious disease specialist Anna Carolina Detoris, Ômicron is a variable that has been around for a short time and there is still insufficient data to know how it works.

“But depending on the direction of the other variables, it is possible that after a certain time after infection, it is possible to get infected again,” she added.

This was agreed with Dr. Valeria Flame, a researcher on COVID-19 and a professor at the Federal University of Espiritu Santo (Uves).

“We have seen that infection occurs again, even with the same species. We know that the duration of immunity from natural infection is short and that, even with a full immunization schedule, protective antibodies decrease over time. It is very important to take booster doses and the population should follow the recommendations of the Ministry of health and take booster doses of available vaccines,” the doctor said.

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The expert added that it is not yet known all the variables that vaccines can combat. Therefore, the immunostimulant doses represent a new incentive body cells to defend themselves.

It’s more common to get infected with another strain

However, infectious disease specialist Loro Ferreira Pinto noted that, at first, there is no need to despair. He explains that infections occur in large numbers, but this does not mean that they are the same species.

“Re-infection can happen by a micron or something else, but the chances are slim,” the doctor said. “The highest possibility is that a person will be infected again in four, five or six months, but in these cases, it will be another species.” .

An analysis by the UK Health Safety Agency jointly with the Medical Research Council (MRC) of the University of Cambridge Biostatistics Unit showed that the risk of re-infection with covid-19 by a micron is Six times higher among the unvaccinated e Five times lower among vaccinators. The document’s findings were highlighted in a recent WHO report on the progress of the variable.

“This is because Ômicron has an increased ability to evade immunity compared to the previous variants, causing re-infection in those who had a previous infection and those who were vaccinated and even more so in those who did not complete the vaccination schedule,” the report described.

Other studies, including one published by South African scientists, have shown that Micron can escape immunity acquired by people who have already tested positive for COVID-19.

Although studies show that the variant appears to be milder than previous breeds, it cannot be overlooked in any way. Therefore, experts warn of the importance of maintaining the entire protocol, with hand hygiene, use of masks and avoiding masses whenever possible.