Following the emergence of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, many wondered if existing vaccines would provide adequate protection. A recent study conducted by Sheba Medical Center and the Israeli Ministry of Health attempted to address concerns.
The study evaluated the efficacy of existing COVID-19 vaccines against the Omicron variant and confirmed that receiving three doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine will provide significant protection against the Omicron variant, as results indicate that the vaccine prevents severe illness.
In contrast, the study found that two doses of the vaccine are not likely to be effective against the Omicron variant. Thus, an individual vaccinated only twice remains at high risk of contracting the variant and becoming seriously ill.
According to Prof. Gili Regev-Yochay, Head of the Infection Prevention and Control Unit at Sheba, who also led the study: “The findings emphasized the importance of increasing the vaccination rates as an effective and necessary measure to stop the spread of the virus.”
