Latest numbers show two doses hardly offer any protection against Omicron transmission whilst a booster confers about 30 per cent protection
BY DR JEYARAJAH SIVALINGAM
Are boosters the answer to Omicron? The loudest most resounding answer is a big NO. As much as I try to keep up with the latest data, I have not been able to tease out any numbers in that direction.
The Israeli study was based more on antibody titres than clinical outcomes. And that is not rocket science as basic immunology textbooks confirm antibodies after infections or vaccinations do taper off after six months.
Antibodies taper off but the immune response remains intact. Yes, the first two doses were definitely helpful, reducing hospitalisations 11 to 13 times compared with the unvaccinated.
Significant numbers that do justice to the risk and benefit ratios. Risks, of course the vaccines carry their own risks, which I will not venture into here as it is well covered in most forums.
Latest numbers show two doses hardly offer any protection against Omicron transmission whilst a booster confers about 30 per cent protection. And this is transmission.
For hospitalisations, two doses, still confer 70-90 per cent protection against Omicron. Moreover, all data this far clearly presents Omicron as milder.
Omicron a different animal
Two high ranking FDA officers broke rank and resigned against boosters for all groups. Dr Marion Gruber, Director of the Office of Vaccines Research and Review at FDA’s Centre for Biologics Evaluation and Research, and Dr Philip Krause, Deputy Director. They are the number 1 and number 2 there.
Dr Paul Offit, one of the leading authorities in vaccination, has been quoted that he will not advice his 20-year-old healthy son to get a booster. This is as good as it gets.
Paul A Offit, MD, is Director of the Vaccine Education centre and Professor of Paediatrics in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He is the Maurice R. Hilleman Professor of Vaccinology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also the co-editor of the foremost vaccine text, VACCINES.
In summary we cannot out vax Omicron’s spread. It worked for the Delta variant, but Omicron is a different animal. The focus should be on isolation and early treatment of those symptomatic.
Boosters do have their role in vulnerable groups. But not for all. Mandating boosters is bad science. — The Health
