Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The corona virus vaccine developed by BioNTech-Pfizer is reportedly still effective against the Omicron virus variant after three doses.
“(The vaccine) is still effective in preventing Covid-19, also against Omicron, if it has been given three times. The Omicron variant may not be sufficiently neutralized after two doses,” the two companies said in a statement, Wednesday (12/8/2021), quoted by the company. from AFP.
According to the results of the study, the third dose provided similar levels of neutralizing antibody against Omicron, as was observed when administering two doses for the other variants.
Pfizer and BioNTech also said that a special version of the Omicron vaccine, currently under development by BioNTech, would be available in March 2022.
“Although two doses of the vaccine may still offer protection against severe disease caused by the Omicron strain, it is clear from these preliminary data that protection is enhanced with the third dose of our vaccine,” Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla said in a statement.
The new study comes after the discovery of a new variant of omicron that prompted dozens of countries to reimpose restrictions and increase the return to lockdowns that have weakened the nation’s economy.
The detection of the first Omicron cases two weeks ago coincided with a spike in the number of infections worldwide, and the variant adds to concerns about the global resurgence of Covid.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says omicron has so far been found in 57 countries, and there have been no deaths linked to the variant.
Scientists from the WHO and the US government also said the Omicron variant did not appear to be any worse than other strains of the coronavirus, but that this was still being investigated.
(tfa/tfa)
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