Experts are renewing calls for people to receive their booster dose of COVID-19 as a result of increased infections and hospitalizations.
The medical director, Professor Paul Kelly, says there are continuous reinfections for the Omicron variant, even in vaccinated people.
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“We are seeing a reinfection. We know that Omicron, after having had a previous dose of one of the other variants of COVID-19, escaped this immune protection from both a previous dose and only two doses of vaccine. “Kelly told Sky News.
“Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants have now become the dominant strain in the UK (and are) growing especially on the east coast of Australia.”
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But while the variants are more transmissible, there has been no increase in the severity of the disease, the medical director said.
“We will see reinfections over the next few weeks and months, unfortunately with this one, but what we are not seeing is a huge increase in serious illness,” he said.
“This is really due to the vaccine protection that can be increased with a third and fourth dose.”
Treatments and the availability of COVID-19 antivirals have also helped respond to severe cases of the virus, Kelly said.
Epidemiologists also warn of an increase in reinfection, but add that there is a risk that people will develop serious episodes of the disease.
Deakin University epidemiology president Catherine Bennett said the wider community would have a higher risk of infection in the coming weeks.
“We’re seeing what we were afraid might happen, especially the convergence of a worrying flu season after having had a couple of years off,” he told Sky News.
“With COVID, we’re also seeing numbers stay high and that’s partly because Omicron now has that possibility of reinfection in a way we haven’t seen before, especially with these new variants.”
Experts are renewing calls for people to get reinforcements as Omicron subvariants stimulate an increase in cases. Credit: AAP
NSW health authorities said Omicron variants are likely to become the dominant virus strains in the coming weeks, warning of an increase in infections even among those who have already had COVID-19.
Bennett said each new variant would be more transmissible, making it difficult for people not to spread the virus when in public.
He said that for people who received his booster early in the launch, his protection against the virus could be starting to wane.
Only 70% of the eligible population has received their booster dose.
“The message is that if you haven’t had your reinforcement, have it,” Bennett said.
“It’s very important that people get tested early and find out if they are candidates for antivirals or not, so this could help with high infection rates.”
Victoria will lift some of its restrictions Friday at midnight, with positive cases starting Saturday that will allow a member of her household to drive to education or work without getting out of her vehicle.
Mandates will also be raised for third-dose vaccine for workers in education, food distribution and quarantine environments, with vaccine policies up to individual workplaces.
Opposition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston said as cases escalated in some parts of the country, pandemic emergency measures should be lifted in all states and territories.
“Australians are really asking their prime ministers and their prime ministers to let them go on with their lives,” he told Sky News.
“We really have to learn to live with this virus, and the way to learn to live with it is to allow people to make their own decisions.”