Pfizer-BioNTech’s preliminary study shows a third dose of its mRNA vaccine provides similar neutralising antibody levels to Omicron like two doses against wild-type and previous variants.
The South Africa study shows a 41-fold drop in Pfizer vaccine’s neutralisation of Omicron, but considerable protection is retained in those who were both double vaccinated and previously infected with Covid-19.
A preliminary study on the Omicron outbreak in Tshwane district in Gauteng, South Africa, shows a spike in coronavirus infections, but 70% of currently warded Covid-19 patients did not require oxygen support.
UK’s SAGE says even if vaccination (including boosters) can prevent severe disease from Omicron, any significant reduction in protection against infection can result in a huge wave of infections that will subsequently lead to a spike in hospitalisations.
IAS head Adeeba Kamarulzaman calls for an international code of conduct to guide countries’ responses to new variants, describing travel bans as “political posturing”.
The UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) says Pfizer or Moderna is a preferred Covid-19 booster, regardless of the vaccine type in primary vaccination.