"Pfizer Vaccine Two Doses, Reduced Effectiveness Against Omicron"

A medical staff member is aliquoting the Pfizer vaccine at a COVID-19 vaccination center. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyungsoo] Research results have shown that the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine's effectiveness in preventing infection against the new variant Omicron decreases to less than 1/32.

According to major foreign media on the 12th, researchers from the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong conducted experiments using blood samples from 10 individuals who completed Pfizer vaccination one month prior. They found that compared to the original SARS-CoV-2 virus causing COVID-19, the vaccine's effectiveness in neutralizing the Omicron variant dropped to less than 1/32.

The point one month after completing the second dose of vaccination is known to be when antibody levels are highest. The researchers used the Omicron variant successfully isolated from patient specimens at the University of Hong Kong for the experiments.

The research team explained, "Each blood sample (antibody) showed high neutralizing ability against the original SARS-CoV-2 virus," but "the neutralizing ability against the Omicron variant dropped to 1/32 or less."

However, the researchers emphasized that vaccination remains the most effective method to respond to COVID-19. The significant reduction in infection prevention effectiveness of existing vaccines against the Omicron variant has also been confirmed by research teams in Israel and South Africa.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.