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A new study conducted by Israel's Sheba Medical Center shows a fourth COVID vaccine may not be very effective in fighting the omicron variant.
Israel's Sheba Medical Center gave staff members a second booster shot to see how effective the jab would be against the omicron variant. The medical center studied 154 people who took the Pfizer booster shot, the study was done within a two-week period. They also studied the Moderna booster after one week in 120 people. The findings from both were then compared to a control group that did not receive the fourth shot.
According to Regev-Yochay - the fourth vaccine did increase antibodies in the individuals who participated. She told reporters:
“Yet, this is probably not enough for the omicron,”
She continued by saying:
“We know by now that the level of antibodies needed to protect and not to got infected from Omicron is probably too high for the vaccine, even if it’s a good vaccine.”
Israel was the first place to introduce COVID vaccinations last year and just last month became the first place to offer a fourth COVID vaccine/second booster shot to high-risk groups.