Can the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant Confer Natural Immunity against COVID-19?

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is still ongoing, with no signs of abatement in sight. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is the causative agent of this pandemic and has claimed over 5 million lives, is still mutating, resulting in numerous variants. One of the newest variants is Omicron, which shows an increase in its transmissibility, but also reportedly reduces hospitalization rates and shows milder symptoms, such as in those who have been vaccinated. As a result, many believe that Omicron provides a natural vaccination, which is the first step toward ending the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on published research and scientific evidence, we review and discuss how the end of this pandemic is predicted to occur as a result of Omicron variants being surpassed in the community. In light of the findings of our research, we believe that it is most likely true that the Omicron variant is a natural way of vaccinating the masses and slowing the spread of this deadly pandemic. While the mutation that causes the Omicron variant is encouraging, subsequent mutations do not guarantee that the disease it causes will be less severe. As the virus continues to evolve, humans must constantly adapt by increasing their immunity through vaccination.

Keywords: COVID-19; Omicron; SARS-CoV-2; hybrid immunity; natural immunity.

Figure 1

Phylogenetic tree of SARS-CoV-2 variants showing the position of the Delta and Omicron variants (https://nextstrain.org/ncov/gisaid/global?branchLabel=emerging_lineage&dmin=2022-01-12; accessed on 12 March 2022).

Figure 2

The types of immunity. Immunity refers to the ability of the body to prevent the invasion of foreign disease-causing microorganisms or substances. It is divided into innate and acquired immunity. The figure was prepared using Biorender (https://app.biorender.com; accessed on 14 March 2022).

Figure 3

Schematic representation of how vaccination works. This image shows a simplified version of how the vaccine mechanism can block the SARS-CoV-2 virus from infecting a person’s body, starting with the manufacture of vaccines based on the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In this example, an mRNA vaccine contains the SARS-CoV-2 spike RNA. This RNA will be translated by the ribosome to make a spike protein, which can later be recognized by the immune system and produce antibodies that prevent the SARS-CoV-2 virus from replicating. There are also vaccines that use replication-defective viral vector DNA. This vaccine enters like a viral infection and then injects its DNA into the body. The body transcribes and translates it, but the spike protein is only produced later. The figure was prepared using Biorender (https://app.biorender.com; accessed on 01 February 2022).

Figure 4

Omicron variant spike protein mutations (MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research) (https://sars2.cvr.gla.ac.uk/cog-uk/mutants_BA.1_ME_web.png; accessed on 31 January 2022).

Figure 5

Omicron infection as a natural way of vaccination works by triggering infection-induced immunity, incorporating both humoral and cell-mediated immunity. Adapted from Schijns et al. [102]. The figure is created using Biorender (https://app.biorender.com; accessed on 1 March 2022).

Figure 6

A hypothesis that describes how a pandemic end due to a series of mutations.

Figure 7

How a pandemic end by incorporating vaccination and social distancing to achieve herd immunity. Adapted from “Principles of Herd Immunity and Social Distancing” (source: https://app.biorender.com; accessed on 3 February 2022).