Neutralization Escape by COVID Omicron Subvariants BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5

COVID vaccinations increasingly ineffective

By way of background: A neutralizing antibody (NAb) is an antibody that is responsible for defending cells from pathogens, which are organisms that cause disease. They are produced naturally by the body as part of its immune response, and their production is triggered by both infections and vaccinations against infections.

Such antibodies are key to protecting a body against various variants of COVID.

In a recent article there are compelling data that explain why people are increasingly being infected despite previous vaccination or natural immunity (from prior infection).

The new article concluded:

“These data show that the BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5 subvariants substantially escape neutralizing antibodies induced by both vaccination and infection. Moreover, neutralizing antibody titers against the BA.4 or BA.5 subvariant and (to a lesser extent) against the BA.2.12.1 subvariant were lower than titers against the BA.1 and BA.2 subvariants, which suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant has continued to evolve with increasing neutralization escape. These findings provide immunologic context for the current surges caused by the BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5 subvariants in populations with high frequencies of vaccination and BA.1 or BA.2 infection.”

In other words, major upsurges worldwide in COVID infections result from new variants being able to increasingly escape neutralization by antibodies.  Both COVID vaccines offering immunity in the past are now increasingly ineffective, as is natural immunity.

The view that mass vaccination has facilitated the creation of new, more dangerous subvariants looks more and more valid.