The UK Health Security Agency has revealed the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines against "Omicron," emphasizing the necessity of receiving a booster dose to combat the new variant. The agency stated that two doses of the "Pfizer" or "AstraZeneca" vaccines provide limited protection against "Omicron," but booster doses of these vaccines elevate the level of protection to between 70 and 75 percent.
In a statement, the agency noted that an analysis of data from 581 individuals confirmed to be infected with "Omicron" showed that the "Pfizer" and "AstraZeneca" vaccines offered lower levels of protection against the variant's symptoms compared to what was observed with the "Delta" variant.
The statement continued, "Preliminary data indicate that effectiveness against the new variant increases significantly in the early period following a booster dose, providing protection between 70 and 75 percent against symptomatic infections," according to British news network "Sky News."
The statement also highlighted, "We need more time to determine the exact level of protection that COVID-19 vaccines provide against the Omicron variant, but initial results show resistance concerning symptomatic cases."
On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States reported 40 new cases of the "Omicron" variant in individuals who had been vaccinated against COVID-19. CDC Director Rochelle Walensky mentioned that nearly three-quarters of infections with the "Omicron" variant in the U.S. are in vaccinated individuals. However, Walensky noted a positive sign: those infected with the new variant are currently experiencing mild symptoms.
She pointed out that specific data on the new variant remains limited and indicated that the CDC is working on analyzing available data and information to anticipate what "Omicron" may cause. The British newspaper "The Guardian" quoted Walensky saying, "What we generally know is that the more mutations in the variant, the more we need to boost immunity, which is what booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine contribute to."
The official emphasized that the symptoms of "Omicron" observed so far are mild, including cough, congestion, and fatigue, and confirmed that no deaths have been reported due to the variant in the United States.
