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The first results of studies examining how well the vaccine protects against the Omicron variant have been reported. Adding a booster to the vaccine regimen reduces the Omicron variant in lab studies.
The companies stated in a press release that the two doses of their vaccine show decreased protection against Omicron, but a booster dose raises that protection. Blood samples from people who had a booster showed 25-fold higher levels of neutralizing antibodies against Omicron than blood samples from people who had just two. The booster brought the levels of these virus-fighting antibodies back to what they were before. T cells were more durable against Omicron after a booster dose.
The findings are encouraging for a number of reasons. The current vaccine can protect against the new variant. Researchers don't know how dangerous Omicron is, as well as whether it causes more severe disease or evades the protection provided by vaccines. The results of those studies are expected soon. The existing vaccines can still be effective if people get a booster dose. After two doses, the immune system generated lower levels of antibodies that could be used to fight Omicron.
The data clearly shows the value of a third dose, according to the CEO of BioNTech. The Omicron variant vaccine should be a three-dose vaccine because of the data coming on it. The best way to ensure protection is to get a booster shot, which will increase the levels of T cells, which are correlated with better protection against the currently circulating Delta.
The findings come with some conditions. The lab-made version of the Omicron variant was used in the studies. It is still a proxy for the actual variant virus. The same studies will be conducted with live Omicron samples in the coming weeks.
While it is not clear how the current vaccines continue to protect against new variants like Omicron, immunologists say that the quality of antibodies generated against viruses continues to evolve and improve with each exposure, or vaccine dose. That means that the protection against newer versions of the virus could be provided by the earlier versions.
A new vaccine is being developed by Pfizer and other vaccine makers to specifically target the Omicron variant. Scientists expect to have a new vaccine created in about six weeks and tested in a few months. The first batches of the Omicron vaccine will be available by March if it is needed.
Sierk Poetting, chief operating officer at BioNTech, said at the briefing that the production process would stay the same. The only thing that will change is the new variant's blueprints. All the production steps, the mRNA, the lipid formulation, the fill and finish, will be the same.
Pfizer-BioNTech Booster Protects Against Omicron is a letter you can send to us.
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