@article{Wei_J-2024_172130,
title = {Risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection during multiple Omicron variant waves in the UK general population},
author = {Wei, J. and Stoesser, N. and Matthews, P. and Khera, T. and Gethings, O. and Diamond, I. and Studley, R. and Taylor, N. and Peto, T. and Walker, A. and Pouwels, K. and Eyre, D. and Rourke, E. and Thomas, T. and Pienaar, D. and Preece, J. and Crofts, S. and Lloyd, L. and Bowen, M. and Ayoubkhani, D. and Black, R. and Felton, A. and Crees, M. and Jones, J. and Sutherland, E. and Crook, D. and Pritchard, E. and Vihta, K. and Howarth, A. and Marsden, B. and Chau, K. and Ferreira, L. and Dejnirattisai, W. and Mongkolsapaya, J. and Hoosdally, S. and Cornall, R. and Stuart, D. and Screaton, G. and Lythgoe, K. and Bonsall, D. and Golubchik, T. and Fryer, H. and Newton, J. and Bell, J. and Cox, S. and Paddon, K. and James, T. and House, T. and Robotham, J. and Birrell, P. and Jordan, H. and Sheppard, T. and Athey, G. and Moody, D. and Curry, L. and Brereton, P. and Jarvis, I. and Godsmark, A. and Morris, G. and Mallick, B. and Eeles, P. and Hay, J. and VanSteenhouse, H. and Lee, J. and White, S. and Evans, T. and Bloemberg, L. and Allison, K. and Pandya, A. and Davis, S. and Conway, D. and MacLeod, M. and Cunningham, C.},
month = {feb},
year = {2024},
abstract = {SARS-CoV-2 reinfections increased substantially after Omicron variants emerged. Large-scale community-based comparisons across multiple Omicron waves of reinfection characteristics, risk factors, and protection afforded by previous infection and vaccination, are limited. Here we studied ~45,000 reinfections from the UK’s national COVID-19 Infection Survey and quantified the risk of reinfection in multiple waves, including those driven by BA.1, BA.2, BA.4/5, and BQ.1/CH.1.1/XBB.1.5 variants. Reinfections were associated with lower viral load and lower percentages of self-reporting symptoms compared with first infections. Across multiple Omicron waves, estimated protection against reinfection was significantly higher in those previously infected with more recent than earlier variants, even at the same time from previous infection. Estimated protection against Omicron reinfections decreased over time from the most recent infection if this was the previous or penultimate variant (generally within the preceding year). Those 14–180 days after receiving their most recent vaccination had a lower risk of reinfection than those &gt;180 days from their most recent vaccination. Reinfection risk was independently higher in those aged 30–45 years, and with either low or high viral load in their most recent previous infection. Overall, the risk of Omicron reinfection is high, but with lower severity than first infections; both viral evolution and waning immunity are independently associated with reinfection.},
volume = {15},
journal = {Nature Communications},
publisher = {Springer Nature},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-44973-1},
}
