Children Vaccinated with Pfizer Vaccine Have Half the Risk of Omicron Variant Infection

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] A study from Israel has shown that the risk of Omicron variant infection in children vaccinated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine was reduced by half, the Times of Israel reported on the 20th (local time).

According to the report, the Israeli Ministry of Health investigated the COVID-19 infection rate per 100,000 people from December 25 last year to the 16th of this month among children aged 5 to 11 who were vaccinated at the end of November last year and those who were not vaccinated. As a result, about 120 cases per 100,000 were confirmed in the vaccinated children group, while about 260 cases per 100,000 were confirmed in the unvaccinated group.

The Ministry of Health also investigated the COVID-19 infection status of adolescents aged 12 to 15 in the same way. In the group that received a booster shot more than two months before the survey, 90 cases per 100,000 were confirmed, while 330 cases per 100,000 were confirmed in the unvaccinated group.

The Ministry of Health explained, "Even during the Omicron variant wave, vaccines administered within the last three months showed improved protection against infection." However, according to Ministry of Health data, the Times of Israel reported that the vaccine's preventive effectiveness against the Omicron variant is highest immediately after vaccination but declines rapidly after two months.

COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 5 to 11 began in Israel in November last year, and booster shots for those aged 12 to 15 started in December of the same year.

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