COVID Reinfection: What To Know Well-nigh Your Odds Of Getting Sick Again

(Photo: AzmanL via Getty Images)
(Photo: AzmanL via Getty Images)

At an earlier moment in the pandemic, scientists published heartening research that plant that people infected with COVID-nineteen were protected from getting the virus once again for at least half-dozen months.

But the highly contagious omicron variant has raised fresh questions about COVID reinfection — similar whether you tin be infected with a new form of the virus if yous've already recovered, or how long your increased immunity might last.

Wondering about COVID reinfection during the omicron surge? Here'south what we know now.

Experts believe reinfection is possible with omicron

The initial research published on reinfection came out in a pretty different context, when new variants were more than of a hypothetical than a daily reality. Since so, alpha, delta and now omicron accept transformed the pandemic.

Omicron, in particular, is different than the remainder. It has more mutations than delta and it's more transmissible. Anthony Fauci, the nation'southward top infectious disease doctor, has said that omicron is "very different" from previous strains.

So it is non necessarily surprising that initial reports from the Great britain propose in that location has been a three- to 8-fold increase in reinfection from the omicron variant as compared to other variants — though those reports are preliminary.

"There is still no information regarding protection for omicron later natural infection with prior strains," Carla Garcia Carreño, chief of communicable diseases at Children'south Medical Center Plano, told HuffPost."What makes omicron very contagious are the changes in the spike protein of the virus, the function of the virus that binds human cells before infecting them. These mutations or changes make the virus very 'sticky,' so it attaches to cells easier with increased transmissibility."

Of grade, non every COVID lab examination is sent for genetic sequencing to make up one's mind what variant a person has — and many people are now using rapid antigen tests at home. Still, given omicron'due south dominance at the moment, it's safe to assume that's the variant you lot've got if y'all're infected right now, Carreño said.

When you lot're vulnerable to reinfection is still unclear

One of the most pressing questions most reinfection is what the timeline might be — and for now, experts say we actually don't know. You're probably safe for at least a couple of months, merely again, that'southward just a all-time guess at this signal.

"In full general, subsequently infection with SARS-CoV-two (the virus that causes COVID-19), it is rare to see reinfections within a three calendar month menstruation in people whose allowed organisation is intact," Carreño said. "It is important, yet, to remember that current COVID-nineteen vaccines — especially afterwards receiving the booster — perform well to protect against omicron."

Previous studieshave shown that people who are vaccinated and who've as well had COVID may exist more protected than those who are merely vaccinated. Multiple exposures to vaccines and viruses can assistance boost immunity, but but upwardly to a point.

Every bit Katherine Wu recently wrote in The Atlantic: "No combinations of vaccines or viruses can confer invulnerability to future tussles with SARS-CoV-ii. Whether acquired from an injection or an infection, immunity volition e'er work in degrees, not absolutes."

Your all-time bet? Go vaccinated and boosted, and continue to mask up

People who've had COVID and recovered should still get vaccinated and boosted if they oasis't (unless they're currently sick with the virus).

While it might feel disappointing to accept to continue masking up in public settings if you've already been vaccinated and additional and have recovered from an infection, that really is your best bet when it comes to protecting yourself and others.

And call up: The vaccines go on to do an excellent job of protecting people against getting actually sick, even if you lot are infected with the newer omicron variant. Then even if you practise get COVID ― whether information technology'southward again or for the showtime time ― if y'all're vaccinated, you're unlikely to go seriously ill.

Experts are still learning virtually COVID-nineteen. The information in this story is what was known or available as of publication, but guidance can change as scientists discover more than most the virus. Please check the Centers for Affliction Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.

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