Coronamonomania Lives Forever, Part 100

Research from Spain on contact-traced transmission suggests that Omicron is more transmissible than Delta, but results in more asymptomatic infections.  (RS Article)

Contrary to some earlier research, this study finds that viral loads on average were lower in Omicron infections than in Delta ones, suggesting other factors are at work in its higher transmissibility.  However, the effect was only seen in those over age 40 and also varied by vax status.  Weirdly, Omicron loads were lower in two-dose vaccinees, but higher in boosted ones.  (Medrxiv Paper)

Not only are minorities and low-income persons at greater risk of serious CV-19 disease, likely because of poor health behaviors and status, but they are at greater risk of becoming infected, according to this monitoring study.  (Medrxiv Paper)

This paper claims that there is actually a negative association between vaccination rates in a country and CV-19 deaths, but inadequately controls for a myriad of factors, including age and health status.  There is no question in my mind that the vax have reduced deaths.  (SSRN Paper)

This study finds that following a CV-19 infection, the antibody and T cell responses are similar for at least four months post-infection.  (Medrxiv Paper)

This study from Canada looked at CV-19 disease in infants.  30% of hosps for infants were not primarily for CV-19 and most hosps were in infants with other serious illness.  Serious CV-19 disease was rare among infants.  (Medrxiv Paper)

A study from France confirms a far lower hospitalization risk for Omicron infectees compared to Delta ones, although the risk rises with age and is higher in the unvaxed than the vaxed.  (Medrxiv Paper)

Only a modestly lower risk of serious disease or death was found in vaxed versus unvaxed persons in this study.  While Omicron presented lower risk of serious disease than Delta, the effect was similar in vaxed and unvaxed persons. (Medrxiv Paper)