A new study has concluded that infection with and recovery from the cold-like Omicron COVID-19 variant may provide immunity from infection with the more deadly Delta variant.
These findings indicate that the Omicron variant could bring the COVID-19 era to a quick end without widespread death and severe illness.
The Omicron variant has become the dominant COVID-19 strain in the United States and around the world, a sign that the pandemic may become endemic because Omicron does not spread or cause severe illness as effectively as the Delta variant.
“Along with emerging data indicating that Omicron, at this time in the pandemic, is less pathogenic than Delta, such an outcome may have positive implications in terms of decreasing the Covid-19 burden of severe disease,” the study concluded.
Sigallab conducted the study, “Omicron infection enhances neutralizing immunity against the Delta variant,” and posted a manuscript prior to its peer-reviewed publication.
The study included 15 participants who were infected with the Omicron variant and then tested for antibodies to the Delta variant.
The research team, led by Professor Alex Sigal, has published numerous papers on COVID-19 in well-respected journals, such as Nature and Frontiers.
Sigal posted a thread on Twitter that explains the study’s findings.
The increase neutralizing immunity against Omicron was expected – that is the virus these individuals were infected with.
However, we also saw that the same people – especially those who were vaccinated – developed enhanced immunity to the Delta variant.— Alex Sigal (@sigallab) December 27, 2021
If, as it currently looks like from the South African experience, Omicron is less pathogenic, then this will help push Delta out, as it should decrease the likelihood that someone infected with Omicron will get re-infected with Delta.
— Alex Sigal (@sigallab) December 27, 2021
Several Twitter users criticized Sigal for posting the research team’s findings before being peer-reviewed, especially since the study had only 15 participants.
You really shouldn’t be presenting a non peer reviewed pre print article with low number as something to hang your hat on. I have no doubt there is some cross protection but this is bad public out reach.
— Random Veterinarian (@LaVeterinarian) December 27, 2021
