How is the situation developing around the new Corona mutation Omikron? New data on the variant allow further conclusions. The news ticker.
Munich – The new Coronavirus * mutation Omikron is still one of the determining topics. The data on the virus variant is still scarce. From Great Britain, where the corona situation seems to be worsening drastically, there are now two studies that come to (almost) the same result.
Omicron variant: how contagious is the coronavirus mutation? – Lauterbach concludes
A preprint from England allows conclusions to be drawn about the infection and the protective effect of the corona vaccines. “This important UK study on Omikron shows for the first time more clearly how contagious the variant is,” wrote Federal Health Minister and epidemiologist Karl Lauterbach via Twitter.
581 symptomatic omicron cases were included in the study. As the authors wrote, the study results would show that the effectiveness of the vaccine against symptomatic diseases with the omicron variant is significantly lower than with the delta variant.
The results at a glance:
- Two vaccine doses of Astrazeneca *: The protective effect was no longer given from 15 weeks after the second vaccination dose against symptomatic diseases with Omikron.
- Two vaccine doses from Biontech / Pfizer *: vaccine effectiveness was 88 percent two to nine weeks after the second dose, 48.5 percent at weeks ten to 14 after the second dose, and 34-37 percent from 15 weeks after the second dose.
- The effectiveness of the vaccine increased to 75.5 percent after the booster vaccination among those who received their basic vaccination with the vaccine from Biontech.
“An earlier booster vaccination seems sensible, probably necessary,” said Health Minister Lauterbach, commenting on the study results via Twitter.
This important UK study on Omicron shows for the first time more clearly how contagious the variant is. 2XBionTech drops to 34% protection against symptoms after 4 months. Infection. After booster, protection increases to 75%. Early booster vaccination seems useful, probably necessary https://t.co/4z6DAYDmAr
– Prof. Karl Lauterbach (@Karl_Lauterbach) December 11, 2021
Omikron: Booster protects between 70 and 75 percent against corona mutation
This was also the result of a report by the British Ministry of Health. People who would receive the booster vaccination are between 70 and 75 percent protected against the new Corona variant. This assumption is based on a study based on 131 omicron cases. The report of December 10th also stated: “First estimates of vaccine effectiveness (VE) against symptomatic infections find a significantly lower VE against omicron infection compared to delta infection.”
However, based on initial data, experts say that children will be more affected by the omicron than the delta variant. (mbr)
