Topline
Covid booster shots delivered 71% to 75% protection against getting mild Covid symptoms from the omicron variant, according to a study the U.K. Health Security Agency released Friday, amid worries existing vaccines could be less effective against the heavily mutated strain.
People wait in line to get tested for Covid-19 at a testing facility in Times Square on December 9, … [+]
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Key Facts
Among those who had received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, a Pfizer-BioNTech booster increased vaccine effectiveness against the omicron variant to 71.4% two weeks after it was received — that figure was 75.5% for people whose primary doses were the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, according to the study.
Two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine followed by a Pfizer-BioNTech booster gave 92.6% protection against the delta variant, while two doses of the AstraZeneca jab followed by the Pfizer booster yielded 93.8% protection.
The study analyzed around 580 omicron cases and nearly 56,500 delta cases.
The study has not yet been peer reviewed and excluded mixed primary doses.
There was insufficient data to estimate vaccine effectiveness of Moderna vaccines, the study said.
The agency predicted the omicron variant would make up more than half of all Covid cases in the U.K. by mid-December, adding that cases there could surpass more than one million by the end of the month at this pace of infection.
Crucial Quote
“These early estimates should be treated with caution,” Mary Ramsay, the agency’s head of immunization, said, “but they indicate that a few months after the second jab, there is a greater risk of catching the Omicron variant compared to Delta strain,” according to the BBC.
Tangent
Earlier this week, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said omicron looks to have higher transmissibility and milder symptoms compared to other Covid variants based on early data. But he added it was too early to know for sure.
Key Background
Britain was one of the first wealthy countries to detect the omicron variant earlier this month. It promptly moved to restrict air travel and introduced mask mandates on public transportation to curb the spread of the heavily mutated variant. According to the New York Times, Britain could be a testing ground for omicron. It had been more lenient about restrictions compared to other Western European countries and has robust travel with South Africa, the Times reported.
Further Reading
Two vaccine doses don’t stop you catching Omicron (BBC)
Britain faces an Omicron wave, but it’s not clear how bad it’ll be. (New York Times)
Early Reports From U.K., Norway, South Africa Suggest Omicron Variant Is More Transmissible But Causes Milder Covid-19 (Forbes)
Here’s How Covid-19 Vaccine Makers Plan To Tackle Omicron (Forbes)
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