Recovered Patients, Fully Vaccinated Individuals Still at Risk for Omicron Variant

A new study provided more evidence for omicron immune evasion and resistance to all antibodies in clinical use, including Covid vaccine protection. Results suggest that the variant of concern can still infect fully vaccinated individuals and patients previously admitted with COVID infection.

Columbian researchers, along with scientists at the University of HongKong, calls the need for more studies on clinical treatment advances that can anticipate how the variant may soon evolve.

"It is not too far-fetched to think that SARS-CoV-2 is now only a mutation or two away from being completely resistant to current antibodies," says David Ho, MD, director of the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center in their study published in the journal Nature which involves the Clyde'56 and Helen Wu Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Neutralizing the Omicron Variant

After the team tested the ability of antibodies from the most widely used vaccines-Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson-to neutralize the omicron variant, the lab findings revealed a large drop in omicron neutralization, and the antibodies were significantly less effective compared to fighting against ancestral viruses, and antibodies from previously infected individuals were even less.

"Even a third booster shot may not adequately protect against omicron infection, but of course it is advisable to get one, as you'll still benefit from some immunity."

According to the experts, receiving a booster shot of either of the two mRNA vaccines are likely to provide better protection altogether, but diminished neutralizing activity against omicron remains to be exhibited.

"The new results suggest that previously infected individuals and fully vaccinated individuals are at risk for infection with the omicron variant," says Ho. "Even a third booster shot may not adequately protect against omicron infection, but of course it is advisable to get one, as you'll still benefit from some immunity."

The result is also consistent with other neutralization studies, including South Africa and UK.

Also read: COVID-19: Moderna Vaccine Booster Also Effective Against Omicron Variant

Neutralization with monoclonal antibodies

Neutralization studies with monoclonal antibodies, along with other therapies currently in use were found to have also reduced effectiveness against omicron. Although these treatments administered early in the outbreak performed notably in preventing severe illness, they seem to work less in the new study, if they do work at all.

Ho's lab determined one of the major causes for the antibodies evasion is the identified four new spike mutations in omicron, a striking feature that led to alarming number of changes in the virus's spike protein greatly affecting the effectiveness of current vaccines and therapeutic antibodies.

"It is not too far-fetched to think that SARS-CoV-2 is now only a mutation or two away from being completely resistant to current antibodies, either the monoclonal antibodies used as therapies or the antibodies generated by vaccination or infection with previous variants," says Ho.

The study suggests for scientists to develop and anticipate this variant evolution to be able to provide for treatments that works even for the most distinct of variants.

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