There are indications that those who have been fully vaccinated against coronavirus, either in two doses and less than 6 months after the repeat or booster dose, are also protected from the Omicron mutation, Health Minister Nican Horovic said on Tuesday. two more cases of the new strain of the virus, bringing the total to four.
“In the coming days we will have more accurate information about the effectiveness of the vaccine against Omicron, but there is already optimism and initial indications that those who have been vaccinated with two doses and have not passed the period of weakening of the vaccine or have received the booster dose. “They will also be protected from this mutation of the virus,” Horowitz said during a visit to the Soroka Medical Center in Beer-Seva.
According to the Jerusalem Post, Horowitz stressed that “the vaccine is vital at the moment. Anyone who is exposed to the mutation without having been vaccinated will put themselves in unnecessary danger.”
Yesterday afternoon, the Israeli Channel 12 broadcast that the Pfizer vaccine is slightly less effective in preventing Omicron infection compared to Delta -90% vs. 95% – while it is equally effective – about 93% – in preventing serious illness. at least for those vaccinated with the booster dose.
According to a report by the TV station, the ability of the Omicron mutant to infect is about 1.3 times higher than that of Delta. Also, those who are not vaccinated are 2.4 times more likely to develop severe symptoms.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Health said that the ministry did not yet have the data published by Channel 12.
The head of Public Health Services Dr. Sharon Alroy-Preis said the first data on the effectiveness of the Omicron vaccine was expected to be released to Israel from South Africa on Tuesday.
“Our biggest concern is the very rapid spread of this variant in South Africa,” Alroy-Preis told the Knesset Foreign Affairs Committee, describing how daily cases there increased from 200 cases to 2,000 cases in 10 days.
“From what we learn, those who have been vaccinated do not have severe symptoms, it is a mild disease, but for the time being it is preliminary information,” he noted. “Today there will be the first data on the effectiveness of the vaccine.”
The CEO of BioNTech is also optimistic
The BioNTech and Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19 is likely to offer strong protection against serious disease from the new Omicron mutation, BioNTech chief executive told Reuters.
“We believe that it is possible for people to have significant protection against serious illness from Omicron,” said BioNTech CEO Ugur Sahin.
Laboratory tests are scheduled for the coming weeks to evaluate the reaction of people who have taken two or three doses of the BioNTech vaccine to see if their antibodies inactivate Omicron. This will determine if new vaccines are needed.
He added that he expects laboratory tests to show some loss in the protection offered by the vaccine against mild to moderate disease in the case of Omicron, although it is difficult to estimate the extent of the loss.
* BioNTech CEO optimistic about protection against Omicron vaccines
* What does the predominance of Omicron over Delta mean in practice?
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Source From: Capital
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