ABSTRACT
The Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) began spreading rapidly in the community in November 2021, becoming the dominant variant in the Republic of Korea in 2022. Although its pathogenesis in healthy individuals was low, the severity and hospitalization rate was higher in the elderly and immunocompromised patients. We aimed to investigate the immunogenicity in acute and convalescent phases of breakthrough infection by Omicron in elderly individuals. Serological data were assessed by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and plaque-reduction neutralization tests. SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody and immunoglobulin G levels in the acute phase were higher in third dose-vaccinated elderly than in first and second dose-vaccinated patients. The neutralization antibody titer was detected only in third dose-vaccinated patients, and the titer was higher for the Delta than the Omicron variant. In the convalescent phase of Omicron infection, the neutralization antibody titer of vaccinated patients was higher for the Delta than the Omicron variant except in unvaccinated individuals. We demonstrated that the cause of the vulnerability to Omicron variant infection in third dose-vaccinated elderly was due to the low neutralization antibody level against Omicron. A fourth dose of vaccination is required in the elderly to reduce hospitalization and mortality caused by the Omicron variant.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Aged , Humans , COVID-19/epidemiology , SARS-CoV-2 , Seroepidemiologic Studies , Antibodies, Viral , Antibodies, NeutralizingABSTRACT
To determine optimal quarantine duration, we evaluated time from exposure to diagnosis for 107 close contacts of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Omicron variant case-patients. Average time from exposure to diagnosis was 3.7 days; 70% of diagnoses were made on day 5 and 99.1% by day 10, suggesting 10-day quarantine.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , COVID-19/diagnosis , Humans , Quarantine , Republic of Korea/epidemiology , SARS-CoV-2/geneticsABSTRACT
In South Korea, a November 2021 outbreak caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Omicron variant originated from 1 person with an imported case and spread to households, kindergartens, workplaces, restaurants, and hospitals, resulting in 11 clusters within 3 weeks. An epidemiologic curve indicated rapid community transmission of the Omicron variant.