STUDY: Pfizer Vaccine Loses Significant Effectiveness Against Omicron

Pfizer said that a booster dose of their vaccine neutralized the Omicron variant in lab testing, but that the two-dose regimen was significantly less effective.   A third dose increased antibodies 25 times compared to the two doses, the Wall Street Journal reports. Still, two doses may be effective in  preventing severe symptoms because immune cells […]

  • by:
  • 03/02/2023

Pfizer said that a booster dose of their vaccine neutralized the Omicron variant in lab testing, but that the two-dose regimen was significantly less effective.   A third dose increased antibodies 25 times compared to the two doses, the Wall Street Journal reports. Still, two doses may be effective in  preventing severe symptoms because immune cells […]

Pfizer said that a booster dose of their vaccine neutralized the Omicron variant in lab testing, but that the two-dose regimen was significantly less effective.  

A third dose increased antibodies 25 times compared to the two doses, the Wall Street Journal reports. Still, two doses may be effective in  preventing severe symptoms because immune cells can recognize 80 percent of parts of the spike protein that the vaccine targets. 

The findings suggest that three doses will be necessary to produce a similar immune response against Omicron as was given by the first two doses in earlier strains. 

“This is very positive news that should make everyone even more motivated to get vaccinated,” Pfizer Chief Scientific Officer Mikael Dolsten said. 

Pfizer and BioNTech are working on an Omicron-specific vaccine that they hope to have readily available by March of 2022. 

Dolsten said that regardless of how widespread Omicron becomes, booster shots will likely be needed in the future to provide utmost protection. A fourth booster is likely to be needed in the spring or fall of 2022. 

“It’s increasingly clear that you need to have a long-term perspective, with continued boosting to have strong, durable immunity,” he said. “If the landscape looks similar to today, we will likely continue to boost with the current vaccine.”

Image: by is licensed under
ADVERTISEMENT

Opinion

View All

Jair Bolsonaro, 36 aides indicted by Brazilian police for alleged coup against President Lula

Brazilian police said their findings from the investigation, compiled in a 700-page document, were be...

1,500-person migrant caravan on its way to US border from Mexico: report

Human smugglers have been encouraging migrants to "hurry up and sneak in" before President-elect Dona...

JAMESON TAYLOR: Ten bold ideas for President-elect Trump and the new Congress

Now begins the hard work of translating plans into action and promises into policy....

RAW EGG NATIONALIST: President Trump should 'talk softly and carry a big stick'

The election of Donald Trump has sent shockwaves far beyond America’s shores and promises to bring ne...