The results from two new scientific studies are positivean Israeli company and one of the companies Pfizer / BioNTech, in terms of efficiency and extra protection provided by their vaccine versus the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. The first research shows that the fourth dose protects those over 60 years more than the third for at least a period of time, while the second study shows that the The third dose produces significantly higher antibodies than the second dose in children 5 to 11 years of age.
The Israeli study, which covered the period January-February 2022, when Omicron was now dominant in Israel, was published in the American Medical Journal. “New England of Medicine”, according to Reuters. The study analyzed data for 182,122 people over 60 years who had taken three doses and as many as had taken four doses, comparing the effectiveness of the third with the fourth dose, which had been given at least four months later.
Extra relative efficacy 7 to 30 days after the fourth dose was estimated at 45% of the risk of infection, 55% against the symptomatic disease, 68% against the risk of hospitalization, 62% against the serious disease and 74% against the risk of death. The absolute difference in risk between the third and fourth doses was approximately 180 fewer Covid-19 hospitalizations per 100,000 subjects and 69 fewer cases of severe Covid-19 per 100,000 subjects for those receiving a second booster dose (fourth overall).
The researchers concluded that ““The fourth dose of the vaccine was effective in reducing the short-term risk of Covid-19 in those who had a third dose at least four months ago.”. To be investigated is how long the extra protection of the fourth dose lasts in relation to the third.
Supplementary doses for young children as well?
The second small US study, according to a statement from Pfizer / BioNTech (no publication in a scientific journal), analyzed blood samples from 30 healthy children aged 5-11 who had taken the first booster dose and found it in the lab. 36-fold increase in anti-Omicron neutralizing antibodies compared with two doses in children, which indicates a significant level of extra protection. But it is not clear, according to them New York Timeshow long does this increased protection of the third dose last in young children, nor is there yet a clinical study confirming the increased protection of the booster dose.
The two cooperating companies, however, announced that in the following days They plan to apply to the US FDA and EMA for urgent approval of a booster dose for this age group. The pediatric booster dose is 10 micrograms compared to 30 in adults.
However, it is still unclear how much demand there is for booster dose in children 5-11 years, taking into account that e.g. in the US only 28% of children in this age group have taken two doses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Also, according to other experts, the new study for children was only a small sample, so there is a need for more data in order to better understand to what extent and for how long a third dose provides extra protection to children against the risk of serious illness. and hospitalization. More generally, there is skepticism in the scientific community about the need for booster doses for children who are less likely to become seriously ill and need to be hospitalized for Covid-19.
The FDA approved a third dose earlier this year for children aged 12-15 and those aged 5-11 who are immunosuppressed. It remains to be seen what will happen to the main volume of children aged 5-11 who have taken two doses. Research has shown that almost half of children (45%) of this age have no symptoms when they become infected with the coronavirus. But a percentage can get seriously ill and the problem, according to pediatricians, is that it is not possible to predict which child will get slightly ill and which will be seriously ill.
A study by New York researchers published in February found that in children 5-11 years old the effectiveness of the third dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against the risk of infection dropped to 12% from 68% within about a month of the second dosea sharper decrease compared to adolescents and adults who had taken a stronger dose.
Follow Skai.gr on Google News
and be the first to know all the news
