Protection Against Death Is 95%, If These Patients Are Given Booster Vaccine Dose As Per UK Study

The UK Health Security Agency has said that booster shots in people aged 50 or over increases protection against the Omicron variant to 95%.

Booster Shot Efficacy

Around six months after a second dose of any of the COVID-19 vaccines, protection against death from Omicron was around 60% in those aged 50 and over.

The figure increases to 95% two weeks after receiving a booster vaccine dose or precautionary dose as known in India.

The health agency cited data which continued to show high levels of protection against hospitalisation from the booster.

Specific Vaccines 

The Pfizer-BioNTech shot provides around 90% effectiveness against hospitalisation, which drops to 75% 10-14 weeks after the booster.

The Moderna vaccine gives 90-95% effectiveness against hospitalisation up to 9 weeks after the booster.

The vaccine efficacy was also tested for the recently emerged Omicron sublineage called BA.2 which is spreading in Britain and Denmark.

Effective Against Omicron Subvariant

It has been classified as a ‘variant under investigation’ ever since 426 cases were reported in the UK on Jan 21.

UKHSA found a similar level of protection against symptomatic disease here as well. 

It reported that after two doses effectiveness was 9% and 13% respectively for BA.1 and BA.2 after 25+ weeks.

This increased to 63% for BA.1 and 70% for BA.2 from two weeks following a booster dose.

Nasal Vaccine Approved For Trials

Meanwhile in India, Bharat Biotech has received approval to begin Phase-III clinical trials of an intranasal booster dose.

It will conduct trials on people who have already received both doses of Covaxin at nine locations in the country.

An intranasal vaccine is administered in the nose, and as a booster it will be easier to administer  en masse since it does not require trained healthcare workers.

Called the BBV154, the nasal vaccine stimulates immune responses at the site of infection of the Covid-19 virus which is the nose. 

Bharat Biotech has said that it is very effective in blocking infection and transmission of Covid-19.

Covishield And Covaxin Given Conditional Market Approval

Just a day earlier, the DCGI had given conditional market approval for both Covaxin and Serum Institute of India’s Covishield.

It would not be available everywhere for the public to buy.

They would have to purchase them from hospitals and clinics.

The government may cap the price at Rs 275 per dose with an extra service charge of Rs 150.