Corona virus: Where are reinfections due to – Who is at risk of complications

“We are not at the end of the pandemic». SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve and “unfortunately still, this is something we cannot predict and control». It displays new variants that escape immune defenses resulting in reinfectionswhich after the prevalence of the Omicron variant register an increasing trend.

Vaccine boosters reduce the chance of re-infection and increase immune protection against the risk of severe illness from Covid-19. The above is reported in APE-MBE by Giorgos Pappas, pathologist doctor of the School of Medicine of the University of Ioannina with a research project in the field of infections.

He explains that the main reason for the increase in reinfections is that strains of the Omicron varianti.e. the BA.2 that was circulating in the previous weeks, but also the BA.4 and BA.5 that are now prevalent in Greece as well, they are strains that are quite evasive of any previous immunity.

Also as he mentions, the Omicron strain (B.1.1.529) that prevailed in Greece from the end of December to the middle of February did not leave any protection against subsequent strains, immunity is very limited, especially if someone is also unvaccinated. “We don’t know if the same applies to the next Omicron executives, and it’s too early to judge.”, notes Mr. Pappas. He adds that epidemiological models and study results from America indicate that, in general, for strains of the Omicron variant vaccination with booster doses reduces the chances of re-infection, however, explains that we still do not know the duration of immune protection, which after some time can decrease whether it comes from vaccination or from disease. “Muntil we judge what happens to each strain of Omicron, a new strain of Omicron comes along, so we have to update our knowledge as well“, he states, emphasizing that “what we know for sure is that vaccination protects against severe disease».

Cumulative long-term risk with each relapse

“There is no rule that symptoms will be mild after reinfection.”, says Mr. Pappas. He explains that this depends on the viral load to which one will be exposed, from the immune status in which his organization is at that moment, from random factors, as if the infection will attack the respiratory system. “There are many things that play a role and under no circumstances can how you passed the first time you got sick determine how you pass the second time. We have seen cases where re-infections are worse.”

According to a previously published study by Boston researchers, notes Mr. Pappas, there is a cumulative long-term risk with each relapse. In people who have been sick there is an increased risk for serious complications from cardiovascular, respiratory, etc. within the next six months, which is more important than people who have not had the disease. When someone gets sick twice this risk increases even more, which shows that “every disease, even if it is mild, leaves behind “detritus”, it marks the organism and this can appear in various ways. So every disease is dangerous and includes the possibility of long covid, which can change your daily life».

As long as the virus circulates unchecked, it will have the ability to mutate, says Mr. Pappas, emphasizing that the implementation of protective measures – use of masks especially indoors, clean air in closed spaces, targeted controls – and widespread vaccination will limit circulation of the virus in the community. The main thing, he concludes, is that the measures are implemented.

RES-EMP

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