"Defending Omicron with Booster Shots" ... Opposite Results from the UK
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Existing COVID-19 vaccinations or antibody treatments are ineffective against the 'Omicron' variant, but claims have emerged that booster shots (additional vaccinations) can fully restore neutralizing antibody capabilities.
On the 28th, Professor Florian Klein and his research team at the University of Cologne in Germany stated in the international academic journal Nature Medicine that "the blood of Pfizer messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine recipients or COVID-19 convalescents could not neutralize the Omicron variant, but after receiving a booster shot, neutralizing ability against the Omicron variant was fully restored."
The research team conducted experiments using pseudovirus particles bearing the spike protein of the coronavirus to determine whether the Omicron variant could infect vaccinated individuals or convalescents who had acquired natural immunity.
The researchers tested blood samples from 30 adults one month after receiving two doses of the mRNA vaccine. All showed 100% neutralizing ability against the original coronavirus and the Alpha, Delta, and Beta variants. This neutralization rate remained at 97% even after five months and increased to 100% after receiving a booster shot. The same results were observed in 30 convalescents infected with COVID-19 between February and March 2020.
However, individuals who had received two doses of the mRNA vaccine or were convalescents were ineffective against Omicron. Neutralizing ability against the Omicron variant was only 30% one month after two vaccine doses and 37% after five months. Convalescents showed 10% neutralization one month after recovery and 30% after 12 months.
Nonetheless, both groups fully restored 100% neutralizing ability against the Omicron variant after receiving an additional mRNA vaccine booster.
Professor Klein stated, "This study proves that booster shots play a decisive role in improving antibody immune responses against the Omicron variant."
Meanwhile, contrary to this study, on the 23rd, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced that the effectiveness against the Omicron variant drops to 45% ten weeks after receiving a booster shot.
On the 23rd (local time), based on research from Imperial College London and the University of Edinburgh, the UKHSA stated, "There is evidence that protection weakens, with vaccine effectiveness decreasing by 15-25% about ten weeks after booster administration."
The study found that individuals who received two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine and then a third dose with Pfizer or Moderna vaccines had about 60% protection two to four weeks later.
Ten weeks later, the Pfizer booster effectiveness dropped to 35%. The Moderna booster effectiveness decreased to 45%, maintaining a higher level than Pfizer.
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The German research team conducted experiments one month after booster shots for two-dose vaccine recipients and two months after recovery for convalescents, which differs in timing from the UK announcement. Scientists predict that further studies on various COVID-19 vaccines are needed to determine the decline in immunity against the Omicron variant and the effects of booster shots before drawing conclusions.
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