Israel: 4th dose of vaccine does not adequately protect against Omicron – General vaccination plan to be abandoned

LAST UPDATE: 11.47

A fourth dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine was not enough to stem the tide of Covid-19’s Mikron mutation, according to the first clinical trial in Israel released on Monday, according to Bloomberg.

Two weeks after the study began on 154 medical staff at the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv, the researchers found that the fourth dose had increased their antibodies, but also found that they were only partial defense against Omicron. Gili Regev-Yochay, head of research.

Vaccines that have been much more successful in treating previous mutations are much less successful than Omicron, he added. Nevertheless, those who became infected with the virus after taking the 4th dose had only mild symptoms or were asymptomatic.

Last week, the European Union regulator warned that frequent boosters of Covid-19 vaccines could weaken the body’s immune system and the body’s defenses in general.

Israel has begun a wave of the 4th dose of the vaccine to those over 60 and the immunocompromised since the end of December 2021, having so far vaccinated 500,000 Israeli citizens and permanent residents of the country.

The decision to give a 4th dose to the most vulnerable was right, notes Regev-Yochay, as it probably gave an extra boost to their body’s fight against Omicron. The results, however, do not support the administration of a 4th dose to the entire population, he added.

Sheba researchers are conducting a second study by administering a fourth dose of the Moderna vaccine to 120 volunteers who have taken three doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. One week after its start, they have already recorded an increase in antibodies similar to those who took four doses of Pfizer, according to Regev-Yochay.

“We will continue to provide 4th dose to the most vulnerable”

Israel will continue to offer a fourth dose of Covid-19 vaccine despite preliminary findings that it is not enough to prevent Omicron-type infections, a senior health official said today, predicting that infections caused by will decrease within a week.

Health Ministry Director-General Nahman As said the findings of the study were “somewhat surprising” as some people became infected with Omicron after taking the fourth dose.

“But we believe that protection against serious illness, especially for the elderly and vulnerable population, is still available at this dose and therefore I urge people to continue to be vaccinated,” said Nahman As, speaking on Israeli radio. armed forces.

As has happened elsewhere, Israel has seen Covid-19 cases rise sharply due to Omicron. However, he did not record any deaths from the variant and As stated that there has been no increase in the number of intubated patients with Covid-19.

“In another week we will start to see a reduction in numbers, but we still have two or three difficult weeks ahead of us,” he said.