A South African study shows that Omicron boosts immunity against the Delta

Research by scientists in South Africa shows that Omicron infection strengthens immunity to the Delta mutation, according to Reuters.

The study, which has not been evaluated by peers, found that people who were infected with Omicron, especially those who had been vaccinated, developed enhanced immunity to the Delta mutation.

The analysis included 33 vaccinated and unvaccinated people infected with the Omicron variant in South Africa.

“Increasing the neutralization of the Delta mutation in individuals infected with Omicron may result in Delta’s reduced ability to re-infect these individuals,” the researchers said.

Alex Sigal, a professor at the Africa Health Research Institute in South Africa, said on Twitter on Monday that if Omicron were less pathogenic, as South Africa’s experience shows, “this will help displace the Delta.”

According to a previous South African study, there is a reduced risk of hospitalization and serious illness in people infected with the Omicron variant compared to the Delta variant, although the authors say that part of this is probably due to the high immunity of the population.