Wei, Jia and Stoesser, Nicole and Matthews, Philippa C. and Khera, Tarnjit and Gethings, Owen and Diamond, Ian and Studley, Ruth and Taylor, Nick and Peto, Tim E. A. and Walker, A. Sarah and Pouwels, Koen B. and Eyre, David W. and Rourke, Emma and Thomas, Tina and Pienaar, Dawid and Preece, Joy and Crofts, Sarah and Lloyd, Lina and Bowen, Michelle and Ayoubkhani, Daniel and Black, Russell and Felton, Antonio and Crees, Megan and Jones, Joel and Sutherland, Esther and Crook, Derrick W. and Pritchard, Emma and Vihta, Karina-Doris and Howarth, Alison and Marsden, Brian D. and Chau, Kevin K. and Ferreira, Lucas Martins and Dejnirattisai, Wanwisa and Mongkolsapaya, Juthathip and Hoosdally, Sarah and Cornall, Richard and Stuart, David I. and Screaton, Gavin and Lythgoe, Katrina and Bonsall, David and Golubchik, Tanya and Fryer, Helen and Newton, John N. and Bell, John I. and Cox, Stuart and Paddon, Kevin and James, Tim and House, Thomas and Robotham, Julie and Birrell, Paul and Jordan, Helena and Sheppard, Tim and Athey, Graham and Moody, Dan and Curry, Leigh and Brereton, Pamela and Jarvis, Ian and Godsmark, Anna and Morris, George and Mallick, Bobby and Eeles, Phil and Hay, Jodie and VanSteenhouse, Harper and Lee, Jessica and White, Sean and Evans, Tim and Bloemberg, Lisa and Allison, Katie and Pandya, Anouska and Davis, Sophie and Conway, David I. and MacLeod, Margaret and Cunningham, Chris (2024) Risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection during multiple Omicron variant waves in the UK general population. Nature Communications, 15: 1008. ISSN 2041-1723

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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.

Information
Title Risk of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection during multiple Omicron variant waves in the UK general population
Creators Wei, Jia and Stoesser, Nicole and Matthews, Philippa C. and Khera, Tarnjit and Gethings, Owen and Diamond, Ian and Studley, Ruth and Taylor, Nick and Peto, Tim E. A. and Walker, A. Sarah and Pouwels, Koen B. and Eyre, David W. and Rourke, Emma and Thomas, Tina and Pienaar, Dawid and Preece, Joy and Crofts, Sarah and Lloyd, Lina and Bowen, Michelle and Ayoubkhani, Daniel and Black, Russell and Felton, Antonio and Crees, Megan and Jones, Joel and Sutherland, Esther and Crook, Derrick W. and Pritchard, Emma and Vihta, Karina-Doris and Howarth, Alison and Marsden, Brian D. and Chau, Kevin K. and Ferreira, Lucas Martins and Dejnirattisai, Wanwisa and Mongkolsapaya, Juthathip and Hoosdally, Sarah and Cornall, Richard and Stuart, David I. and Screaton, Gavin and Lythgoe, Katrina and Bonsall, David and Golubchik, Tanya and Fryer, Helen and Newton, John N. and Bell, John I. and Cox, Stuart and Paddon, Kevin and James, Tim and House, Thomas and Robotham, Julie and Birrell, Paul and Jordan, Helena and Sheppard, Tim and Athey, Graham and Moody, Dan and Curry, Leigh and Brereton, Pamela and Jarvis, Ian and Godsmark, Anna and Morris, George and Mallick, Bobby and Eeles, Phil and Hay, Jodie and VanSteenhouse, Harper and Lee, Jessica and White, Sean and Evans, Tim and Bloemberg, Lisa and Allison, Katie and Pandya, Anouska and Davis, Sophie and Conway, David I. and MacLeod, Margaret and Cunningham, Chris
Identification Number 10.1038/s41467-024-44973-1
Date 2 February 2024
Divisions College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cancer Sciences
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Dental School
Publisher Nature Research
Library
URI https://pub.demo35.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/367
Item Type Article
Depositing User Unnamed user with email ejo1f20@soton.ac.uk
Date Deposited 11 Jun 2025 16:37
Revision 11
Last Modified 12 Jun 2025 10:10
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