Pouch: "No Need for Omicron-Specific Vaccine... Booster Shots Are Enough"

"75% Immunity Effect Even with Additional Vaccination"
"Unvaccinated Individuals Have 14 Times Higher Death Risk Than Vaccinated"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Anthony Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), recently expressed optimism that a vaccine specifically adjusted for the currently prevalent COVID-19 Omicron variant is unnecessary, and that immunity can be sufficiently enhanced through additional booster shots. Analysis suggests that the existing vaccines, for which booster shots are currently being administered, can provide over 75% immune effectiveness, offering adequate protection.

On the 15th (local time), Fauci stated at a COVID-19 briefing held at the White House, "Two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines still show a 70% effectiveness in preventing hospitalization, and receiving a booster shot raises immunity effectiveness to 75%. At the current level, an Omicron-specific vaccine is not necessary, and sufficient protection can be achieved with booster shots."

Fauci added, "Although the neutralizing antibody efficacy of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines against Omicron appears to be quite low, a significant increase in neutralization can be observed two weeks after receiving a booster shot. The message is clear: unvaccinated individuals must get vaccinated, and those who have completed two doses should receive a booster shot."

Also present at the briefing, Jeff Zients, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, reiterated the importance of vaccination by stating, "According to CDC data, unvaccinated individuals are eight times more likely to be hospitalized and fourteen times more likely to die compared to those who have received two vaccine doses."

However, given that the spread of the Omicron variant is much faster than the previous Delta variant, concerns remain that the future pattern of Omicron infections needs to be closely monitored. Rochelle Walensky, CDC Director, said, "So far, COVID-19 variants have been detected in at least 36 states in the U.S., accounting for about 3% of infections nationwide, with the Delta variant still making up the majority. However, the proportion of infections caused by the more contagious Omicron variant is expected to increase significantly in the U.S. going forward."

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