Thread by @outbreakupdates

We’re facing a brutal wake up call.

The data here points to a public health crisis where individuals, even those previously infected or vaccinated, may have insufficient protection against new variants.

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A single Omicron booster is not
sufficient to elicit a strong and broad immune response in individuals who have been vaccinated against the original strain.

It’s a band-aid on a bullet wound.

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nature.com/articles/s4158…

Immune imprinting has entered the room.

The immune system’s initial training on the ancestral strain limit its ability to respond to significantly different variants like Omicron.

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Individuals with breakthrough infections from initial strains are at a disadvantage against variants like XBB

Their titers are alarmingly low, indicating a compromised ability to combat evolved strains

Our immune responses are not up to the task against this rapid evolution

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The science is clear.

Immune imprinting has left us with an outdated defense trying to fend off an enemy that’s already moved on.

It’s like entering a modern battlefield with old maps and no radio contact.

You’re blind to the enemy’s new tactics.

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The fold changes displayed in graphs an and b above the lines indicate dramatic decreases in neutralization titers against new variants compared to the Wuhan-Hu-1 strain.

Such decreases highlight a significant drop in the protective immune response.

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If we don’t pivot fast, with vaccines tailored to these emerging threats, we’re looking at a future where COVID isn’t just knocking on the door—it’s breaking it down.

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Graph d indicates that a broader neutralization response is only achieved after repeated Omicron infections.

This implies that single exposures are simply not enough to prompt a strong protective response.

This is a concerning scenario for public health.

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