Are you more protected from the delta variant if you are infected with the omicron variant? The Center for Disease Control is looking to answer that question, according to director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.
Walensky talked about her agency's efforts to understand the difference in the protection offered through natural infection to the strains of COVID-19 during a media briefing on Friday.
Early evidence has shown that the omicron variant may help protect people from the delta variant, but the CDC is now beginning studies to see whether or not the variant does.
When it comes to protection from omicron given from delta, Walensky said that "we have an indication that if you had delta, you are susceptible to infection with omicron."
The new variant has quickly become king of the variant hill, with more than 95% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. caused by the strain.
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"This virus has changed, and it's constantly throwing up curveballs," Walensky said. "As the virus changes, the science changes."
A small study from South Africa, yet to be peer-reviewed, has highlighted the natural immunity provided from omicron.
The study suggested that catching the omicron variant isn't enough to protect from reinfection from other variants.
The study also found that those infected with omicron had more robust antibody responses if vaccinated prior to infection.
More variable responses were found for those who were unvaccinated when infected, with some having strong antibody responses and others having weak responses.
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Either way, experts and doctors continue to recommend that people get vaccinated to protect themselves from infection.
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Michael Osterholm talked about how more COVID-19 cases will still hit the health care system hard, even if they are not as severe while urging people to get vaccinated.
"Even if it's a smaller proportion of those who have serious illness, life-threatening illness, there's so many more of them that our healthcare systems are going to be challenged," Osterholm said.
The U.S. currently has 62.5% of its population fully vaccinated, with 74.8% receiving at least one shot.
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