{"id":143115,"date":"2021-12-09T22:02:19","date_gmt":"2021-12-10T02:02:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=143115"},"modified":"2021-12-09T22:02:19","modified_gmt":"2021-12-10T02:02:19","slug":"pfizer-says-3-doses-of-its-covid-19-vaccine-neutralizes-omicron-variant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/pfizer-says-3-doses-of-its-covid-19-vaccine-neutralizes-omicron-variant\/","title":{"rendered":"Pfizer Says 3 Doses of Its Covid-19 Vaccine Neutralizes Omicron Variant"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Pfizer\u00a0<\/a><\/span>and\u00a0BioNTech\u00a0<\/a><\/span>said three doses of their Covid-19 vaccine neutralize the Omicron coronavirus variant, according to the results of an initial laboratory study.<\/p>

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The data showed a third dose of the vaccine increases neutralizing antibodies by 25-fold compared with two doses, strengthening the case for and need for booster shots.<\/p>\n

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The preliminary data suggest three doses provide a similar level of antibodies as is observed after two doses against other variants that emerged before Omicron, the companies said.<\/p>\n

Two vaccine doses showed a 25-fold reduction in neutralizing antibodies against Omicron compared with other variants, which they said suggested two doses \u201cmay not be sufficient\u201d protection.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAlthough two doses of the vaccine may still offer protection against severe disease caused by the Omicron strain, it\u2019s clear from these preliminary data that protection is improved with a third dose of our vaccine,\u201d\u00a0Pfizer\u00a0<\/a><\/span>(ticker: PFE) CEO Albert Bourla said in\u00a0a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The companies added that the development of an Omicron-specific vaccine was progressing and is expected to be available by March 2022, if such an adaptation ends up being needed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe takeaways from Pfizer\u2019s update underscore our belief that the durability of Pfizer\u2019s vaccine sales for Covid-19 remain underappreciated by the Street,\u201d Cantor Fitzgerald analysts said. They rate the stock as Overweight with a target price of $61, implying an 18% upside to Tuesday\u2019s closing price.<\/p>\n

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Another study, published late Tuesday, suggested that Pfizer\u2019s Covid-19 vaccine offers partial protection against the Omicron variant.<\/p>\n

The small South African\u00a0laboratory-based study<\/a>\u00a0suggested that the variant escapes antibody immunity induced by the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine but that \u201cconsiderable immunity\u201d is retained.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is likely that lesser vaccine-induced protection against infection and disease would be the result,\u201d said Africa Health Research Institute\u2019s executive director, Prof. Willem Hanekom.<\/p>\n

\u201cImportantly most vaccinologists agree that the current vaccines will still protect against severe disease and death in the face of Omicron infection,\u201d he added. The study was small, including blood samples from just 12 participants, but it is the first scientific data into the efficacy of vaccines against the Omicron variant.<\/p>\n

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The loss of immune protection is \u201crobust but not complete,\u201d head of research Alex Sigal said, adding that a good booster shot would decrease the risk of infection, especially of more severe disease.<\/p>\n

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