"3rd Dose Vaccine Recipients Show Up to 29 Times Greater Defense Against Omicron Variant Compared to 2nd Dose Recipients" (Update)

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo So-jeong] It has been found that the defense capability against the Omicron variant in individuals who have completed the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in South Korea is 10.5 to 28.9 times higher than those who have only completed the basic vaccination series.

The National Institute of Infectious Diseases at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (Director Jang Hee-chang) announced on the 20th the results of an investigation and analysis of neutralizing ability against the Omicron and Delta variants after the third dose among domestic COVID-19 vaccine recipients.

According to the results, among 35 South Korean COVID-19 vaccine recipients aged 20 to 59, the ability to neutralize the Omicron variant increased 2 to 3 weeks after the third dose.

For 15 individuals who completed the second dose with the AstraZeneca vaccine and received the third dose with the Pfizer vaccine, the neutralizing antibody titer was 28.9 times higher compared to after the second dose. Among 10 individuals who received all three doses with the Pfizer vaccine, the neutralizing antibody titer against the Omicron variant was 17 times higher, and among 10 individuals who received the first dose with AstraZeneca and the second and third doses with Pfizer, the neutralizing antibody titer increased 10.5 times.

The neutralizing antibody titer is the value of antibodies that prevent viral infection and induce protective effects.

However, there are limitations in obtaining reliable research results due to the small sample size of 35 and the exclusion of individuals aged 60 and above from the study group. Kwon Jun-wook, Director of the National Institute of Health, stated, "If the sample size were larger, more meaningful results could be obtained in various ways, but currently, the need for rapid analysis is greater, so the neutralizing ability was assessed as soon as the study subjects were secured."

Additionally, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases reported that among 1,482 participants (aged 10 to 94) in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from July to October last year, the antibody prevalence rate was 67.1% (994 individuals). Among the participants, the antibody prevalence rate was 70% after the first vaccine dose and 99.2% after completing the basic vaccination series among 1,114 vaccinated individuals, while the antibody prevalence rate due to natural infection was 0.54% (8 individuals).

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