JERUSALEM (AP) — Getting a fourth coronavirus vaccine gives only limited protection against the omicron variant, a preliminary study by an Israeli hospital has found.
Last week, Sheba Hospital began giving a fourth vaccine to 274 employees: 154 received the one from Pfizer-BioNtech and 120 from Moderna. All had previously received three Pfizer-BioNtech injections.
Both groups showed a “slightly greater” increase in antibodies than that provided by the third vaccine, according to the trial. But the increase, the medical center clarified, was not enough to protect the organism from the omicron variant.
“Despite the higher levels of antibodies, the fourth vaccine offers only partial defense against the virus,” said Dr. Gili Regev-Yochay, director of the hospital’s virology department.
“Vaccines, which were more effective against earlier variants, offer less protection against omicron,” he added.
The results cast doubt on the Israeli initiative to offer a fourth dose to its population over 60 years of age. Some 500,000 Israelis have received the fourth vaccine in recent weeks, according to official figures.
–
