Pfizer Reveals How Effective The Booster Is Against Omicron
We're nearing the two year anniversary of the global Covid-19 pandemic, and the novel coronavirus continues to mutate. Its latest iteration, dubbed Omicron by virologists, is proving to be a scary variant, but it's also got people wondering how effective a booster shot of one of the Covid-19 vaccines would handle it.
Covid-19 vaccines booster shots have been deemed necessary this winter, per Dr. Fauci, and the continued mutations of the coronavirus only make this shot matter more. Until now, vaccinated folks only received two doses of the Pifizer or Moderna vaccines or one dose of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine (via the CDC). Booster shots being offered by Pfizer and Moderna are third doses that aim to support your prior doses. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, vaccines' powers naturally wane over time, so booster shots simply help them continue to work. In this case, a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot could help fortify your body against new coronavirus strains.
As folks continue to wonder whether booster shots will be effective against the Omicron variant, Pfizer has released new information to help Americans make the best option for them.
The Omicron variant alters one's immune system's functions
Covid-19's latest variant, Omicron, has been confirmed to be present in more than 50 countries and at least 19 U.S. states, per USA Today, and more and more people are heading to their local pharmacy to receive a vaccine booster shot. But will it be effective against this variant?
As it turns out, a Covid-19 booster shot can greatly help protect you against the Omicron variant. In a statement released this week, the CEO and co-founder of BioNTech, Ugur Sahin, said, "Our preliminary, first data set indicate that a third dose could still offer a sufficient level of protection from disease of any severity caused by the omicron variant." BioNTech engineered Pfizer's vaccine in conjunction with them.
While there remains a lot to learn about the Omicron variant, receiving a booster shot of the Covid-19 vaccine can only help you remain safe and healthy as this strain continues to spread to more places. According to Bloomberg, research from both Germany and South Africa shows that the Omicron variant reduces one's immune system's capabilities just like the novel coronavirus. This is potentially one of the worst effects of the virus, and with this variant spreading far quickly, they warn that everyone should stay as safe as they possibly can — and receive a booster shot. After all, they're free.