UCSF’s Dr. Bob Wachter called the BA.5 omicron subvariant “a different beast” compared to other coronavirus mutations, with differences that could prompt behavioral changes to avoid infection. The notion that “hybrid immunity” from both a coronavirus infection and vaccination offers a high degree of protection has been thrown into doubt with the onset of the highly infectious infectious omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5.
Why UCSF’s Bob Wachter says COVID variant BA.5 is “a different beast”
The new BA.5 strain of the COVID-causing virus is “a different beast” from ones we’ve already seen — more infectious and better able to evade immune responses — and “we need to change our thinking” about how to defend against it, according to a data-packed Twitter thread posted today by Dr. Bob Wachter, UCSF’s chair of medicine.
One COVID expert’s reinfection shows why ‘hybrid immunity’ may no longer be possible
Hybrid immunity against COVID due to both infection and vaccination was considered highly protective against new variants earlier in the pandemic. But with super infectious omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5, that may not hold true any longer. Read more about hybrid immunity and reinfection here.
Here’s how to measure the risk of getting COVID from someone who’s asymptomatic
How likely is it for people to catch COVID from someone who is asymptomatic? It’s not impossible — and may be more common than people realize, health experts say.
Will new COVID variants BA.4 and BA.5 cause the Bay Area’s surge to get even worse?
Two new highly infectious and immune-evasive COVID variants are now dominant in the United States, and together they likely will drive the Bay Area’s long spring surge well into summer, health experts say.
Read More: COVID in California: Latest news and updates