As the omicron surge diminishes across the United States, health experts are curious, will the antibodies from an omicron infection protect against COVID-19 variants down the road?
Dr. David Martinez, immunologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who studies immune responses to the COVID-19 vaccine, told KCBS Radio's "Ask An Expert" the omicron variant has an important difference to past coronavirus variants.
"One of the things we do know about the omicron variant is that it exhibits substantial genetic diversity within the spike protein, which is the target of the vaccine, relative to previous variants," he said.
Based on preliminary studies, Martinez said the ability of omicron antibodies to protect against infection bodes well for the future.
"The antibodies solicited from the omicron infection are actually fairly good in terms of neutralizing the next generation variant (BA.2) that appears to be coming up in different parts of the world," he said. "I think that could potentially be good news in the long term."
However, for those hesitant to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, Martinez advised against contracting the omicron variant to gain antibody protection as there are adverse, life threatening side effects that come with any COVID-19 infection.
"You're still better off getting the vaccine," he assured.
