New Data Shows COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots Against Omicron Lasts Less Than Six Months, Effectivity Wanes Over Time

When the pandemic started, scientists worked hard to develop a COVID-19 vaccine to give people sufficient protection against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Depending on the type and brand, people need to be vaccinated twice to be protected from COVID-19. But when the Omicron variant started to spread, experts said booster shots might be needed.

It is now almost two months since the surge of cases in the US due to the Omicron variant and since the public got their third dose. Michaeleen Doucleff, NPR global health correspondent, said in an interview that new data from British scientists confirm the effectiveness of booster shots as it cut the risk of infection by 70%, Wyoming Public Media reported. But how long could this protection last?

Third Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine Wanes Over Time

Since it is common knowledge now that booster shots are critical for protecting against the infection caused by the Omicron variant and reduces hospitalizations, NPR reported that researchers in the UK have conducted a study that estimates for the first time the longevity of the protection provided by the third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

The longevity of protection from booster shots is likely short-term, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported on Friday. They estimated that it could only last for six months, wherein it cuts the risk by 70% during the first two weeks but eventually goes down to 50% after that and will continue to decline. On the other hand, protection against the severe form of the infection appears more robust.

Meanwhile, the second analysis showed that the protection could decline to 40% four months after the third shot. Immunologist Jennifer Gommerman from the University of Toronto said that the efficacy of the COVID-19 booster shots relies on the level of antibodies there are against SARS-CoV-2.

She also pointed out that antibodies rise quickly after getting the jab in any vaccine and diminish over time. That is why it is expected to see some protection at the beginning of the booster shots.

Is the Waning Protection From Booster Shots A Problem?

There is still a lot to know about the waning effectiveness of booster shots. Evidence suggests that vaccine-induced immunity does wane but still offers some protection against the infection. According to Vox, studies in the UK and the Netherlands showed that vaccines significantly reduce the risk of transmission.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that vaccinated people are still protected compared to unvaccinated individuals who are 11.3 times more likely to die from COVID-19. Experts added that protection provided by vaccines wanes over time because it is what the immune system does.

Due to this, experts believe that COVID-19 will become endemic, or a disease that sticks around in a similar form like the flu or cold viruses and will be likely defanged by a mix of natural and vaccine-induced immunity or other treatments. Perhaps the waning of the vaccines' effectiveness may no longer be a big deal in the long run. But experts warn that the world is not yet there.

Check out more news and information on COVID-19 Vaccines in Science Times.