COVID-19: THE FREEDOM EXPERIMENT updated

Buzzcocks in Oxford

As previously reported, I succumbed to Omicron on Boxing Day.  Despite being triple-jabbed.  Two brands of Lateral Flow Tests showing positive, confirmed by a PCR.

In this previous article, we note that Omicron's spike protein is physically different from that of Delta and earlier variants, and infects cells through a simpler mechanism.  As a result Omicron infects different cells, and produces different symptoms.  Escaping immunity to those earlier variants.  Really a different disease.

THE BIG QUESTION / THE BIG EXPERIMENT

Can immunity to the various Covid variants be provided by the combination of triple vaccination and Omicron infection?  Does that combination provide freedom - at least until a new nasty variant appears. Such as this 'Deltacron'?

Let's experiment.  The advantage of living in Oxford is plenty of low-cost but high quality musical opportunities.  

Over the first 9 weeks of 2022, I've been to 36 music gigs and nightclubs, that would be regarded as 'super-spreader' events.  Yes, 4 a week.  Plus pubs and 11 ensemble rehearsals.  

With so many people I know locally going down with Covid in recent weeks, there's been plenty of Covid about.  Every opportunity to catch one variant or another.

 

 

THE RESULTS ARE IN !

Let's dance!

No control, and only a sample of one.  But by doing a Lateral Flow Test every morning, the results are in:

• Now 71 consecutive daily negative results since 28 December (4 + 31 + 28 +8) - see latest update below
  
• A day or two feeling lousy in February, as if fighting off infection.  Though that could have been anything

I'd call that result freedom.  Wouldn't you? 

UPDATE 6 April 2022

Make that 100 consecutive daily negative LFT results, 4+31+28+31+6.  Even after attending potentially super-spreader events nearly every day since New Year.  More than three full months of 'out out' living since New Years's Eve.  Freedom!

But this article in the Guardian warns "We are at the start of the 90-day period for possible reinfection with BA.2 following a BA.1 infection".  BA.2 is the variant now most prevalent in the UK, with BA.1 being the variant around in late December when I was infected with it.  

So how long before I go down with Omicron again?  The experiment continues, though my supply of LFTs is limited.  Test kits became unavailable for delivery or collection around here at least 10 days early, in mid March.