According to a new Israeli study, an additional booster did not prevent large numbers of infections.
A fourth dose of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine showed dwindling effectiveness against the Omicron variant, according to a trial conducted in Israel, with one its lead researchers saying the immunization is simply “not good enough.”
A Sheba Medical Center study that involved 154 staff members found that the Omicron strain was only marginally protected by a fourth shot. This is in contrast to other mutations.
“We see an increase in antibodies, higher than after the third dose. However, we see many infected with Omicron who received the fourth dose,” said Gili Regev-Yochay, one of the head researchers on the trial, adding that while “the vaccine is excellent against the Alpha and Delta [variants],”Omicron “it’s not good enough.”
Israeli officials have already begun to administer fourth doses of the drug for elderly patients, immunocompromised, and health workers earlier in the month. Some 500,000 received a second boost on top of the initial two-dose regimen.
Although the trial is in its early stages and the hospital didn’t provide any figures, RegevYochay stated that she released preliminary results because boosters are an important matter. “high public interest,”According to The Times of Israel. It is not uncommon to give fourth doses of IVs to residents with high-risk status, she said. “probably”Although this approach is the best, we believe that the booster campaigns should not be extended to people older than 60.
Both the World Health Organization and the EU’s drug regulator, the European Medicines Agency, have cautioned against the over-use of boosters, though for different reasons. The WHO called for more equitable distribution of vaccine doses across the globe, noting that countries are receiving their third or fourth shot before those in less developed nations receive their first. Last week the EMA warned of potential side effects from booster shots and suggested that multiple vaccinations within a relatively short time period could cause complications. “problems with immune response.”
Israel, one of the least vaccinated countries on the planet was among the first to give fourth-generation vaccines. This is because it had experienced an increase in Omicron virus infections. Deaths and hospitalizations have only seen a slight uptick in recent months, however, in line with findings suggesting the latest ‘variant of concern’ produces milder symptoms than previous mutations. Although the world’s health agencies were concerned, Chile, Denmark, and Hungary followed their lead in giving fourth shots. Officials in Austria recommended that they be administered on an “off-label”Base for healthcare staff.
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