"After 3 doses of Pfizer, neutralizing antibody levels increase 50-fold after one month" ... Japanese study results

A citizen is receiving a vaccine at the vaccination center set up in Sadang Sports Complex, Dongjak-gu, Seoul. This is unrelated to the article.

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] A study has found that receiving three doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine increased the neutralizing antibody levels that can prevent COVID infection by an average of about 50 times.

According to NHK broadcast on the 6th, a research team from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare investigated the amount of antibodies in about 250 healthcare workers who completed the third dose of Pfizer by the 14th of last month, using the method designated by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The investigation confirmed that the antibody level one month after the third dose increased by an average of 49.6 times compared to the level just before the third dose.

Also, in a survey of about 2,100 healthcare workers who completed the third dose, 55% reported headaches, and the side effects after the second and third doses were analyzed to be almost the same.

The research team explained, "This study was not based on Omicron, but it can be estimated that the third dose provides a certain level of infection prevention effect against Omicron as well."

Meanwhile, Japan's third dose vaccination rate relative to the population, which started in December last year, was relatively low at 4.8% as of the 4th.

On the 6th, 89,145 new confirmed cases (NHK tally) were reported nationwide in Japan. Although this is about 10,000 fewer than when the number first rose to the 100,000 range, it is the highest ever recorded for a Sunday.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (岸田文雄) reportedly called relevant ministers to his official residence in the afternoon and repeatedly instructed them to speed up the third dose vaccination.

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