“Pfizer vaccine loses efficacy against Omicron mutation… I need a booster shot”

A study has found that the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) vaccine developed by US pharmaceutical company Pfizer is not effective in preventing infection with the Omicron mutant virus. The researchers advised that immunity should be supplemented with a booster shot (third dose).

According to Bloomberg News on the 7th (local time), the African Health Research Institute (AHRI) in South Africa conducted a test to measure the effectiveness of two doses of Pfizer vaccine. It was confirmed that the decrease was reduced to 1/40. Neutralizing antibodies build immunity in a way that prevents the virus from penetrating into cells. This is the first time that a Pfizer vaccine has been reported on the efficacy of an Omicron mutation prevention test.

AHRI Director Alex Segal described this loss of immunity as “strong but not complete”. “The number of cases in which the virus breaks through immunity will increase,” he said. “Those who have not been vaccinated with Boostershot should be vaccinated, and those who have been infected with COVID-19 in the past should also receive the vaccine,” he said.

The AHRI measured the antibody concentrations needed to neutralize or block the virus using 14 plasma samples collected from 12 people who had received their second dose approximately one month ago. “The level of neutralizing antibody against the omicron mutation was significantly higher in some of the participants who had COVID-19 a year ago,” said Siegel.

The results of this study are preliminary results that have not yet undergone formal evaluation, and the researchers explain that the exact level of immune evasion of the study omicron mutation may change. In addition, this study is expected to be helpful in determining whether existing vaccines should be modified to prevent omicron-mutated infections. “Soon, the results of the experiment will be available at the Karolinska Medical Institute in Sweden,” said Siegel.

Recently, in South Africa, with the recent rapid spread of omicron mutations, 10,000 new cases of COVID-19 are pouring in every day. There is also the possibility that omicron mutations could neutralize immunity developed through vaccination or infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that omicron mutations could increase the infectivity of COVID-19 and lead to a serious epidemic.

Kim Pyo-hyang reporter suzak@hankookilbo.com