Omicron and BA.5: Questions patients may have and how to answer
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Fueled by a highly transmissible subvariant of the Covid-19 Omicron variant, known as BA.5, SARS-CoV-2 infections are on the rise again. Even situations that have seemed to carry a relatively low risk, such as outdoor gatherings, may now pose a greater threat.
But with pandemic fatigue a pervasive reality, many have tried to move on with their lives in search of a new normal without fretting over the latest COVID-19 variants and subvariants. Yet many others, especially people with suppressed immune systems or with underlying conditions that put them at high risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes, have been left searching for answers and further guidance on what to do.
Here are some questions patients might have about BA.5 and other Omicron subvariants, along with the answers that physicians should be ready to share.
Is the BA.5 Omicron subvariant more contagious?
BA.5 is one of the latest subvariants of the original Omicron lineage. There is a unique cluster of mutations on the spike protein, which has led the BA.5 subvariant to potentially be the most contagious strain of SARS-CoV-2 so far. But it does not appear to lead to more severe outcomes than other COVID-19 variants and subvariants.
Does the BA.5 Omicron subvariant evade immunity?
The short answer is, yes, the mutations of the BA.5 subvariant have allowed it to sneak past the body’s immune system more easily. This means if you had a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection or have been vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19, you are not completely protected.
Compared with the BA.2 subvariant, BA.5 has been able to spread more easily because of its ability to evade immune protection against infection induced by prior infection or vaccination. This is especially if protection has waned over time, contributing to more frequent breakthrough infections and reinfections. While breakthrough infections are not resulting in severe illness, each reinfection does carry the risk of developing long Covid, also known as post-COVID conditions.
Written by: Sara Berg, MS - Senior News Writer
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