Texas Medical School: "Pfizer Booster Shot Lasts at Least 4 Months Against Omicron After Vaccination"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] A study has found that the Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine booster shot provides strong protection against the Omicron variant for four months after vaccination.

On the 24th (local time), The Washington Post (WP) reported this, citing researchers from the University of Texas Medical School, Pfizer, and BioNTech.

The researchers from the University of Texas Medical School, Pfizer, and BioNTech confirmed that they obtained these results through investigations of serum samples from vaccinated individuals and neutralization experiments.

This paper has not yet undergone peer review or been formally published in an academic journal.

According to the study, the Pfizer booster shot increased the neutralization potency against Omicron.

Although antibody levels decrease somewhat over time, a high level of protection against Omicron was confirmed to persist even at four months post-vaccination.

The study did not proceed to determine whether neutralization of Omicron continues beyond four months after the booster shot.

Until now, there have been concerns that even two doses of the Pfizer vaccine are insufficient to protect against Omicron. However, it is known to provide protection against severe disease in such cases.

The authors of the paper stated that the duration of protection, the need for additional vaccinations, and Omicron-specific vaccines will be understood through further data and laboratory research.

WP said, "The big question about the booster shot was how quickly the protective effect wanes," adding, "This study suggests that a fourth dose may not be immediately necessary."