"The Only Weapon Humanity Has Against the Omicron Variant Is the Booster Shot" [Reading Science]

Nature Introduces French Research Findings

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] A study has found that the only certain weapon humanity currently has against the COVID-19 Omicron variant is the third dose of the vaccine (booster shot).

The international academic journal Nature published the results of a study by the University of Paris and the Pasteur Institute in France on the 23rd. According to the study, the research team tested the resistance of the Omicron variant against nine approved or in-development monoclonal antibody treatments and antibodies extracted from 115 people who were either infected with COVID-19 or vaccinated.

The results showed that the Omicron variant completely or partially neutralized the nine monoclonal antibody treatments included in the test. Additionally, people who had completed vaccination with AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccines more than five months prior barely inhibited the Omicron variant. Even antibodies in the serum taken from patients who had recovered from COVID-19 infection 6 to 12 months earlier showed little to no resistance against the Omicron variant.

On the other hand, those who received a third dose (booster shot) of the Pfizer vaccine or those who were infected and then vaccinated formed antibodies that neutralized the Omicron variant. However, the amount was about 6 to 23 times less compared to the Delta variant.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The research team explained, "The Omicron variant has escape ability against most monoclonal antibody treatments and broadly vaccinated antibodies. However, antibodies generated by the booster shot still maintain neutralizing power against the Omicron variant."

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