In a new study from the Africa Health Research Institute, researchers found people infected with the omicron variant may have stronger immune protection against delta.
This means that omicron could displace delt in the near future.
The findings have significant implications for nations where omicron infections are rapidly increasing but the delta variant is still widespread.
In the study, the team followed 13 people, 11 of whom had been infected with the omicron variant.
Seven of the participants were vaccinated: three people who received two doses of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine and four who received the Johnson & Johnson shot.
The team found the antibody response of people infected with omicron appeared to increase protection against the delta variant more than fourfold two weeks after the participants enrolled in the study.
These patients also showed a fourteenfold increase in the ability of antibodies to block omicron reinfection.
However, it is unclear whether increased protection is due to omicron-induced antibodies, vaccination or immunity from a previous infection. Vaccinated individuals demonstrated stronger protection.
The team says these results are consistent with Omicron displacing the Delta variant since it can elicit immunity which neutralizes Delta making re-infection with Delta less likely.
If omicron displaces delta and proves milder than past variants, the incidence of Covid-19 severe disease would be reduced.
If you care about COVID, please read studies about when is it OK to take a rapid antigen test for COVID, and findings of COVID-19 pills that may change everything.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about who has the highest risk of heart damage in COVID-19, and results showing that Omicron may be less likely to cause severe disease.
One researcher of the study is Khadija Khan.
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