Close X
Monday, November 25, 2024
ADVT 
National

Prior Omicron infection didn't protect some seniors from reinfection, study finds

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Aug, 2023 11:34 AM
  • Prior Omicron infection didn't protect some seniors from reinfection, study finds

A new study has found that previous infection with an Omicron variant of COVID-19 did not protect seniors in long-term care and retirement homes from getting reinfected within a few months. 

Senior author and McMaster University immunologist Dawn Bowdish says the study results are surprising because they challenge the current thinking about hybrid immunity. 

People are expected to gain hybrid immunity to COVID-19 when they've been both vaccinated against the virus and have also been infected. 

But in the McMaster study, vaccinated seniors who had been infected with Omicron variants in early 2022 were about 20 times more likely to be reinfected with another Omicron variant later that year. 

That's compared to seniors who were vaccinated but had not been infected.   

Bowdish says the study suggests people should stay up-to-date with their  COVID-19 vaccinations and not assume a previous infection is protecting them. 

But Bowdish also says it's not known whether or not the study results apply to the general population or if they are specific to seniors. 

The study followed 750 vaccinated seniors in long-term care and retirement homes across Ontario. 

It was published Monday in eClinicalMedicine, one of The Lancet's medical journals. 

The study shows that a lot is still unknown about how the virus that causes COVID-19 infects people, said Bowdish. 

"(Canada's) vaccination strategy is predicated on this assumption that having had a recent infection will protect you from an infection at least for a short period of time. And our study shows that for some variants that's just not true in some people," said Bowdish, who holds the Canada Research Chair in Aging and Immunity at McMaster University.  

MORE National ARTICLES

Williams Lake Mountie charged three years after car crash with suspect

Williams Lake Mountie charged three years after car crash with suspect
The prosecution service says the Mountie faces charges of assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm, criminal negligence and dangerous driving. Prosecutors say the charges against Const. Madeline Hjelden stem from an on-duty motor vehicle incident in Williams Lake, B.C., that occurred in May 2020. 

Williams Lake Mountie charged three years after car crash with suspect

Assault with a weapon in Newton, One in hospital

Assault with a weapon in Newton, One in hospital
On Thursday, at 10:07 a.m., Surrey RCMP responded to the report of an assault with a weapon in the 12900-block of 68 Avenue. Upon arrival police located a 20-year-old man suffering from apparent stab wounds.

Assault with a weapon in Newton, One in hospital

B.C. judge allows cannabis 'fire sale' to stave off CRA destruction threat

B.C. judge allows cannabis 'fire sale' to stave off CRA destruction threat
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has approved the bulk sale of more than 1,200 kilograms of cannabis by a company after the Canada Revenue Agency threatened to destroy it.  The agency had earlier declined to renew the company's excise tax licence due to financial difficulties.

B.C. judge allows cannabis 'fire sale' to stave off CRA destruction threat

A week since Amber Alert issued for missing children, location remains unknown

A week since Amber Alert issued for missing children, location remains unknown
Surrey R-C-M-P say it's been one week since an Amber Alert was activated for Aurora and Joshuah Bolton, whose whereabouts remain unknown. Police say they're still concerned for the children's safety after their mother, Verity Bolton, didn't return them to their father after a trip.   

A week since Amber Alert issued for missing children, location remains unknown

Weather delivers modest respite for wildfire starts in B.C.

Weather delivers modest respite for wildfire starts in B.C.
Fire and emergency management officials are set to provide an update on the state of wildfires around British Columbia, as recent rains have offered some reprieve but several blazes still threaten communities. The BC Wildfire Service is reporting 412 active wildfires, down by about 70 since Monday.

Weather delivers modest respite for wildfire starts in B.C.

Former senator, MP and journalist Pat Carney is dead at the age of 88

Former senator, MP and journalist Pat Carney is dead at the age of 88
Pat Carney, who pioneered roles for women in Canadian politics and journalism, has died at the age of 88. Her niece, Jill Carney, confirmed in a statement that the former MP and senator passed away Tuesday.   

Former senator, MP and journalist Pat Carney is dead at the age of 88