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Booster at least 80% effective against severe Omicron | Booster at least 80% effective against severe Omicron |
(about 13 hours later) | |
UK researchers have analysed the likely impact that a Covid booster shot will have on Omicron and say it could provide around 85% protection against severe illness. | UK researchers have analysed the likely impact that a Covid booster shot will have on Omicron and say it could provide around 85% protection against severe illness. |
The protection is a bit less than vaccines gave against earlier versions of Covid. | The protection is a bit less than vaccines gave against earlier versions of Covid. |
But it means the top-up dose should still keep many people out of hospital. | But it means the top-up dose should still keep many people out of hospital. |
It comes as a record 861,306 booster jabs and third doses were given in the UK on Thursday. | |
The modelling, from the team at Imperial College London, is based on limited information on Omicron. | The modelling, from the team at Imperial College London, is based on limited information on Omicron. |
The researchers say there is a high degree of uncertainty until more real-world information is gathered about this new variant that is spreading quickly. | The researchers say there is a high degree of uncertainty until more real-world information is gathered about this new variant that is spreading quickly. |
Experts are still trying to figure out how mild or severe Omicron will turn out to be. | Experts are still trying to figure out how mild or severe Omicron will turn out to be. |
Omicron: How worried should we be? | Omicron: How worried should we be? |
Omicron symptoms: Is a runny nose a cold or Covid? | Omicron symptoms: Is a runny nose a cold or Covid? |
Vaccines help teach the body how to fight Covid. But the current ones in use were not designed to combat the heavily-mutated Omicron variant, meaning they are not a perfect match. | Vaccines help teach the body how to fight Covid. But the current ones in use were not designed to combat the heavily-mutated Omicron variant, meaning they are not a perfect match. |
To get round that, people in the UK are being advised to have a booster dose to build up higher antibody levels to fight the virus. | To get round that, people in the UK are being advised to have a booster dose to build up higher antibody levels to fight the virus. |
Antibodies can stick onto the virus to stop it entering cells and replicating. | Antibodies can stick onto the virus to stop it entering cells and replicating. |
Studies have suggested a 20 to 40-fold reduction in the ability of these antibodies to take out the virus in double-vaccinated people. | Studies have suggested a 20 to 40-fold reduction in the ability of these antibodies to take out the virus in double-vaccinated people. |
The preliminary work from Imperial assumes there will be a drop in vaccine efficacy against Omicron. | The preliminary work from Imperial assumes there will be a drop in vaccine efficacy against Omicron. |
Even with a booster, protection against severe disease from Omicron may be around 80 to 85.9%, compared to around 97% for Delta - the other variant that is currently dominant in the UK. | Even with a booster, protection against severe disease from Omicron may be around 80 to 85.9%, compared to around 97% for Delta - the other variant that is currently dominant in the UK. |
However, there are other parts of the immune system, such as T cells, that can fight Covid too. The modelling could not assess the impact of these. | However, there are other parts of the immune system, such as T cells, that can fight Covid too. The modelling could not assess the impact of these. |
One of the Imperial researchers Prof Azra Ghani said: "One remaining uncertainty is how severe the disease caused by the Omicron variant is compared to disease caused by previous variants. | One of the Imperial researchers Prof Azra Ghani said: "One remaining uncertainty is how severe the disease caused by the Omicron variant is compared to disease caused by previous variants. |
"Whilst it may take several weeks to fully understand this, governments will need to put in place plans now to mitigate any potential impact. | "Whilst it may take several weeks to fully understand this, governments will need to put in place plans now to mitigate any potential impact. |
"Our results demonstrate the importance of delivering booster doses as part of the wider public health response." | "Our results demonstrate the importance of delivering booster doses as part of the wider public health response." |
Dr Clive Dix, former chair of the UK Vaccine Taskforce, said: "There is a huge amount of uncertainty in these modelled estimates and we can only be confident about the impact of boosters against Omicron when we have another month of real-world data on hospitalisation, ICU [intensive care] numbers and deaths. | Dr Clive Dix, former chair of the UK Vaccine Taskforce, said: "There is a huge amount of uncertainty in these modelled estimates and we can only be confident about the impact of boosters against Omicron when we have another month of real-world data on hospitalisation, ICU [intensive care] numbers and deaths. |
"It remains the case that we still need to get vaccines current and future to the whole world." | "It remains the case that we still need to get vaccines current and future to the whole world." |
Cases of Omicron are rising - and there's more to come. | Cases of Omicron are rising - and there's more to come. |
The UK has recorded 3,201 new cases of the Omicron variant, up from yesterday's figure of 1,691. | The UK has recorded 3,201 new cases of the Omicron variant, up from yesterday's figure of 1,691. |
It takes the total number of confirmed Omicron cases in the UK to 14,909 - although the true figure is believed to be much higher because not all labs can detect the variant and not everyone will come forward for testing. | It takes the total number of confirmed Omicron cases in the UK to 14,909 - although the true figure is believed to be much higher because not all labs can detect the variant and not everyone will come forward for testing. |
So how long will it go on for? The modellers aren't sure yet. | So how long will it go on for? The modellers aren't sure yet. |
They're talking about peaks early in the new year - if you keep on doubling and doubling and doubling cases, there'll eventually be more people getting infected than there are people in the UK - so there is a limit on this. | They're talking about peaks early in the new year - if you keep on doubling and doubling and doubling cases, there'll eventually be more people getting infected than there are people in the UK - so there is a limit on this. |
The real question - which still hasn't been answered - then becomes: how ill does it make people and how much pressure is it going to put on the healthcare system? | The real question - which still hasn't been answered - then becomes: how ill does it make people and how much pressure is it going to put on the healthcare system? |
Earlier, the government announced a further 861,306 booster and third dose jabs were given in the UK on Thursday - the highest daily total so far. | Earlier, the government announced a further 861,306 booster and third dose jabs were given in the UK on Thursday - the highest daily total so far. |
It means half of all UK adults had now received a booster jab, Boris Johnson said. | It means half of all UK adults had now received a booster jab, Boris Johnson said. |