With data coming from Europe and South Africa, scientists are learning the Omicron variant of the coronavirus may “evade” protections provided by available vaccines, but that boosters can re-establish some of their benefits, Politico reports.
Studies with limited patient pools from South Africa show that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is largely ineffective against Omicron in the two-dose version, but a third booster does does improve the vaccine’s efficiency. A study in Germany showed vaccines available in Europe have limited effectiveness, but that boosters improve protections.
“It is very clear our vaccine for the Omicron variant should be a three-dose vaccine,” Ugur Sahin, co-founder and chief executive of BioNTech, told a press briefing.