A laboratory study by its makers found the vaccine “is still
effective in preventing Covid-19, also against Omicron, if it has been administered
three times”, but warned that “the Omicron variant is probably not sufficiently
neutralised after two doses”.
According to the study “a third dose provides a similar
level of neutralising antibodies to Omicron as is observed after two doses” for
other variants.
Pfizer and BioNTech also said that an Omicron-specific
version of the anti-coronavirus vaccine, currently in development by BioNTech,
would be available by March.
“Although two doses of the vaccine may still offer
protection against severe disease caused by the Omicron strain, it’s clear from
these preliminary data that protection is improved with a third dose of our
vaccine,” Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla said in a statement.
The new study comes after dozens of nations re-imposed border
restrictions in response to the spread of the new virus variant and raised the
possibility of a return of economically punishing lockdowns.
The detection of the first Omicron cases two weeks ago
coincided with jumping infection numbers across the world, and the variant
added fuel to concerns about a global Covid resurgence.
Omicron has so far been found in 57 countries, the WHO said.
No deaths have yet been associated with the variant.
Scientists from the World Health Organization and the United
States government told AFP this week the Omicron variant appeared to be no
worse than other coronavirus strains but said more research was still
necessary.
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