Hybrid immunity offers the greatest protection against severe disease from Covid — and previous infection provides higher protection than vaccination alone, a review has found.
However, all sources of protection waned “within months” against reinfection, the analysis found.
The term hybrid is used to describe the immunity provided by a combination of infection and vaccination.
Researchers writing in The Lancet Infectious Diseases said the Omicron variant resulted in many individuals with hybrid immunity due to high levels of infection following vaccination.
They wanted to know how strong the level of protection in people with hybrid immunity was, compared to those who had been infected without being vaccinated.
“There are gaps in the literature on the magnitude and duration of protection conferred by previous infection, both among individuals who have not been vaccinated (ie, the effectiveness of previous infection alone) and among individuals who have been vaccinated (ie, the effectiveness of hybrid immunity),” said the paper, which has been published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Previous reviews had estimated the durability of protection conferred by previous infection.
But none had looked into the durability of protection conferred by hybrid immunity or compared the durability of the different types of protection, said the researchers.
So they set about comparing data from 26 studies.
The analysis found people with previous infection alone, and those with previous vaccination only had “rapidly waning protection” against infection with the Omicron variant.
“Previous infection was found to provide higher protection against reinfection and more sustained protection against hospital admission or severe disease than vaccination alone,” said the study.
However, people with hybrid immunity had the most robust and longest protection of all, “emphasising the importance of providing vaccination to previously infected individuals,” they said.
The analysis shows protection against admission to hospital remains high 12 months after developing hybrid immunity.
Anyone who developed hybrid immunity in the period had a 95 per cent lower chance of suffering a serious case of the disease, according to the paper.
Those who were infected a year before, but were not vaccinated, had a 75 per cent lower chance of developing a severe disease and requiring admission to hospital.
Protection against reinfection was lower, at 42 per cent for those with hybrid immunity, compared to 25 per cent for those who had been infected before but were not vaccinated.
The researchers said protection provided by previous infection “should not detract from the need for vaccination” because infection-induced protection against reinfection wanes rapidly, and vaccination increases durability.
“Furthermore, there are serious risks associated with infection,” said the paper.
“These include the risks of hospital admission, ICU admission and mechanical ventilation, and death. They also include the risk of developing post-Covid-19 complications.
“Additionally, those who recover from severe Covid-19 have a higher risk of cardiovascular complications, neurological complications, dementia, diabetes, and chronic respiratory problems.
“Vaccination is therefore a safe intervention to avert severe disease outcomes and to reduce post-Covid complications.”
A recent large-scale global analysis found pregnant women with Covid are seven times more likely to die and face a substantially higher risk of suffering from serious complications.
Expectant mothers infected by Covid-19 are more than three times more likely to be admitted to intensive care and 15 times more likely to require a ventilator to help them breathe.
They face a 23 times higher risk of developing pneumonia and are five times more likely to suffer from blood clots.
The study also suggests having Covid during pregnancy also increases the risk that the baby will need to be admitted to intensive care, said the study.
Researchers said the risks underscore the need for pregnant women to be vaccinated against the virus.
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
England Test squad
Ben Stokes (captain), Joe Root, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts
Punchy appearance
Roars of support buoyed Mr Johnson in an extremely confident and combative appearance
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Country-size land deals
US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:
Louisiana Purchase
If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.
Florida Purchase Treaty
The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty.
Alaska purchase
America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".
The Philippines
At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million.
US Virgin Islands
It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.
Gwadar
The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees.
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.
List of alleged parties
May 12, 2020: PM and his wife Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at least 17 staff
May 20, 2020: They attend 'bring your own booze party'
Nov 27, 2020: PM gives speech at leaving party for his staff
Dec 10, 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson
Dec 13, 2020: PM and his wife throw a party
Dec 14, 2020: London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff event at Conservative Party headquarters
Dec 15, 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
Dec 18, 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
