Some people are toying with the idea of intentionally infecting themselves with omicron before the fall and the next big wave of infections. The idea: Anyone who is infected now is protected for the coming months. However, a new study shows why this plan is not working.
Omicron is usually milder. And anyone who has been infected has a certain immunity against further corona infections. So far so good. However, the idea of deliberately getting infected with the currently prevailing variant is less good. This is now shown by new data.
In winter we spend more time indoors. The corona virus can then spread more easily again, after all, the hours of sunshine and the strength of UV rays decrease again in the cold months. In addition, the immune system of some people is weakened anyway due to colds. In the past two years, this has led to a significant increase in the number of infections in autumn and winter. But not so this summer – this year we are experiencing a summer wave due to the very contagious Omicron variant BA.5.
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Some people are therefore considering consciously contracting the virus in the summer. For example, the virologist Klaus Stöhr recently explained in a live talk at “Bild” that wearing a mask on public transport is no longer necessary because everyone will become infected sooner or later.
But according to many experts, the plan to become infected now to protect yourself is not working. Researchers from the University of Washington are now showing this in a preprint study. The scientists examined the data of Covid-infected people from 17 countries. They checked how well they were protected from further infection after their infection. Among other things, they found two things:
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Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach also comments on the study results on “Twitter”. “Why an omicron infection is not worthwhile now,” he writes – and summarizes three reasons based on the study results:
People who are toying with the idea of deliberate infection should be aware that this is no guarantee of strong immunity. That shows the study by the University of Washington. Lauterbach writes that those infected could be infected again next autumn. He therefore advises: “Be careful now and get an adapted vaccine in the fall”.
While it is true that the omicron variant usually triggers milder gradients compared to the previously dominant delta variant. But that’s not always the case, nor is it the case for everyone, as Lauterbach emphasizes. With each new infection there is a risk of a severe course – i.e. both with a conscious omicron infection and with another one afterwards.
Immunologist Carsten Watzl also recently commented on “Twitter” about the risk of reinfections. It is a fallacy that these are always harmless, he explained there using a car comparison:
“A corona infection is like driving too fast through a curve,” wrote the doctor there. That could
In the second cornering that is too fast, you do it “a little better”, says Watzl. However, some accidents still occur. “One practice lap doesn’t make you a Formula 1 driver,” he explains. Therefore, people with reinfections are also exposed to a health risk the second time. Because: “Each additional fast cornering increases the risk again.”
In addition, the Robert Koch Institute rates all cases as “mild” that are not difficult or critical. This means that any omicron disease that does not lead to pneumonia is considered mild – even if other strong symptoms occur, such as cough and fever.
In addition, there is also a risk of suffering long-Covid after an omicron infection, Lauterbach continues. Even if the risk increases with the severity of the disease, according to “Infection Protection.de”, the long-term symptoms can also occur if the infection was previously rather mild.
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According to the immunologist Watzl, we will “probably never make it” with 100 percent certainty to get through the curve too quickly. He therefore considers it “negligent” to suggest that one should now intentionally become infected.
Of course, the risk for a person under 60 with a healthy immune system and who has been vaccinated three times to become seriously ill with corona is relatively low, admits immunologist Watzl. “Therefore, such people can lose their fear of the virus,” he says. “But you should keep respect.” And also limit the number of infections with simple measures.
