Omicron natural vaccine?Experts call the concept dangerous

New Delhi: Experts said the idea that Omicron is a natural vaccine is a “dangerous idea” disseminated by irresponsible people who do not take into account the little-understood “long COVID”.

The Omicron variant of COVID-19 is said to be much more infectious than other mutants, but it causes milder infections, reduced hospitalization and mortality, and can function as a natural vaccine. It leads to an idea.

Recently, Maharashtra health officials argued that Omicron could act as a natural vaccine and help advance COVID-19 to the endemic stage.

Shahid Jameel, a prominent virologist, said the idea that Omicron is a natural vaccine is a dangerous idea spread by irresponsible people.

“It creates complacency and is rooted in pandemic fatigue and nothing more than the evidence currently available,” he told PTI.

Jamir, head of a former advisory group at the SARS-COV-2 Genomics Consortium in India (INASACOG), said supporters of this did not take into account the little-understood “long COVID”. ..

“It is not good science or public health to actively expose people to viruses that we hardly understand, especially in India, where malnutrition, air pollution and diabetes are widespread,” he said.

Gilidara R. Bab, a professor at the Indian Public Health Foundation and head of lifecourse epidemiology, said no matter how mild Omicron, it is not a vaccine.

“There are deaths and hospitalizations due to this variant. Keep away from false information. Compared to vaccination, natural infections are from any variant (alpha, beta, gamma, or delta) (to death or hospitalization). (On the other hand) the population cannot be protected. Proponents of mass immunity have reiterated that Omicron provides mass immunity. Evidence, not opinion, is important. “

Shuchin Bajaj, founder director of the Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals, said the disease could have long-term effects and people need to be aware of it.

“It has been shown to last for more than 6 months in various other organs, in addition to the lungs such as the heart, brain and kidneys, even after a very mild infection, so what long-term it is. We really don’t know if it can cause any effects. We already see a lot of long COVID patients with brain fogging and improper sinus tachycardia, “he said.

“So you shouldn’t think of this as a vaccine. It’s not really a vaccine, we died for Omicron. We were admitted to the ICU for Omicron. Therefore, it’s much milder than Delta. It’s a good version, but it’s still a virus and you need to be careful, “he said.

However, Yash Javeri, Head of Critical Care at Lucknow’s Regency Health, said Omicron’s high infectivity and low severity could help suspend the pandemic.

“As a result, the entire community is protected, not just those with immunity. Infection with the Omicron mutant not only elicits an immune response against this mutant, but also protects against the Delta mutant. Enhancements have also been found in South African studies. Due to their high infectivity and low severity, Omicron may help further boost community immunity and suspend pandemics, “he said. ..

Herd immunity occurs when the majority of the community is immune to the disease, reducing the likelihood of the disease spreading from person to person.

Balram Bhargava, director of ICMR, said last week that hybrid immunity resulting from vaccination and spontaneous infections responds more strongly to COVID-19 and its variants.