The development of vaccines against the coronavirus Covid-19 has literally been a lifesaver but there are concerns that they may not work so well against the Omicron strain.
Researchers from the University of Oxford have done a test on blood samples collected from people jabbed twice – either with the vaccine from AstraZeneca or the one from Pfizer – and concluded that being double-jabbed is a lot less effective at warding off infection of the new Omicron strain, particularly compared to protection against the Delta variant.
The research paper from the Oxford University team, which has yet to be subject to peer review, offered no data on how well the vaccines help an infected person recover from the virus.
UK parliament busy interviewing an SA Chair if the medical association regarding Omicron. Seems like a bad headache and body aches are the main symptoms. Vaccination definitely reduces the symptoms. SA has not made any new mandates to curb the spread.
— Sam Jooste (@SamanthaJooste) December 14, 2021
Teresa Lambe, an Oxford University professor who helped create the AstraZeneca vaccine, said more time is needed to determine whether the vaccines would ameliorate the effects of the Omicron variant of the virus.
“We’re hopeful that the current vaccine will protect against severe disease and hospitalisation and that’s certainly what we’ve seen before with other variants of concern,” Lambe told reporters.
“We and other vaccine manufacturers are in a position that if a new variant vaccine is needed, we can go fast,” she added.
$AZN Ignore the lies : Professor Teresa Lambe, an author on the Oxford paper:
"Vaccination induces many arms of our immune system, including neutralising antibodies and T-cells. Real-world effectiveness data has shown us that vaccines continue to protect against severe disease "
— noone@nowhere (@nooneatnowhere) December 14, 2021
"Real-world effectiveness data has shown us that vaccines continue to protect against severe disease with previous variants of concern. The best way to protect us going forward in this pandemic is by getting vaccines in arms," Lambe advised.
The UK Health Security Agency also recently suggested that being double-jabbed might offer less protection against contracting the Omicron variant although it added that a third jab – a booster – should improve the vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing infection.
“Those who are offered booster vaccination should take it," said Professor Gavin Screaton, the head of Oxford's Medical Sciences Division, and lead author of the research paper published yesterday.
“Whilst there is no evidence for increased risk of severe disease, or death, from the virus amongst vaccinated populations, we must remain cautious, as greater case numbers will still place a considerable burden on healthcare systems," Screaton added.
Prof Gavin Screaton: 'This data will help those developing vaccines, and vaccination strategies, to determine the routes to best protect their populations, and press home the message that those who are offered booster vaccination should take it.'https://t.co/AfveFUZwRx
— University of Oxford (@UniofOxford) December 13, 2021
Meanwhile, Billy Gardner and Marm Kilpatrick from the University of California have crunched the numbers using a computer model that incorporates data on the efficacy of vaccines against earlier variants of the Covid-19 coronavirus and concluded that two doses of an mRNA vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna are only about 30% effective in preventing Omicron infection, compared to about 87% efficacy against the Delta variant.
The University of California paper, published on Sunday, is also awaiting peer review.
British Studies Show Vaccines Weaken Against Omicron, But Boosters Help https://t.co/3SlwsZyTbq
— Davistech (@Davisloaded) December 14, 2021