Infectious diseases expert Peter Collignon said COVID-19 reinfections will become more common over time and Australians will have to learn to live with the virus as it shifts to an endemic phase.
NSW Health confirmed in its weekly report on Thursday the state’s first BA.4 case was identified this month following routine genomic surveillance.The announcement comes as South Africa battles a surge in BA.4 cases, while the BA.5 sub-lineage is expected to arrive Down Under in the next couple of months.
Experts warn the risk of being reinfected with COVID-19 for a second time will become increasingly common as new highly transmissible Omicron sub-lineages emerge. Photo by Recep Sakar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images. “If you’ve been immunised with two doses of vaccine and - like probably half of Australia has over the last six months - have got an Omicron infection, that will probably give you reasonable protection because you’ve effectively had a booster but it won’t give you absolute protection,” he said.