Pfizer and BioNTech said three doses of their Covid-19 vaccine neutralize the Omicron coronavirus variant, according to the results of an initial laboratory study.
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.
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.
Two vaccine doses showed a 25-fold reduction in neutralizing antibodies against Omicron compared with other variants, which they said suggested two doses “may not be sufficient” protection.
“Although two doses of the vaccine may still offer protection against severe disease caused by the Omicron strain, it’s clear from these preliminary data that protection is improved with a third dose of our vaccine,” Pfizer (ticker: PFE) CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement.
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.
“The takeaways from Pfizer’s update underscore our belief that the durability of Pfizer’s vaccine sales for Covid-19 remain underappreciated by the Street,” Cantor Fitzgerald analysts said. They rate the stock as Overweight with a target price of $61, implying an 18% upside to Tuesday’s closing price.
Another study, published late Tuesday, suggested that Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine offers partial protection against the Omicron variant.
The small South African laboratory-based study suggested that the variant escapes antibody immunity induced by the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine but that “considerable immunity” is retained.
“It is likely that lesser vaccine-induced protection against infection and disease would be the result,” said Africa Health Research Institute’s executive director, Prof. Willem Hanekom.
“Importantly most vaccinologists agree that the current vaccines will still protect against severe disease and death in the face of Omicron infection,” 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.
The loss of immune protection is “robust but not complete,” head of research Alex Sigal said, adding that a good booster shot would decrease the risk of infection, especially of more severe disease.
The study concluded that previous infection followed by vaccination of booster was likely to provide protection.
It has been a volatile couple of weeks for Covid-19 vaccine makers, as investors battle to assess the impact of the Omicron variant while waiting for answers to crucial questions.
Moderna (MRNA), Pfizer and Novavax (NVAX) were among the sharpest fallers in U.S. premarket trading on Wednesday. That is after plunging Monday and rallying on Tuesday. But Pfizer stock reversed course following the study results and was trading 0.4% higher.
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Good news for the antivaxers.
Never forget folks, that Pfizer want to hide their original vaccine data trials from the world until 2096, when when almost everyone able to read this article right now, WILL HAVE DIED!!!
… And even better news, for sheeple like you. BAAAAA!!!
oh, by the way,we like to be known as CRITICAL THINKERS, that want a vaccine that actually works!
I know deep down you envy vaccinated people….We make you grumpy.
Can you debate on anything properly? Or you like a bucket wid hole a battam nu have no business a riverside?
The next variant they will say 6 doses then jump to 12 doses for another, is this an everlasting boosting technology. When vehicles get over boost they tend to overturn.
God designed our immune system to fight, proper nutrition and early treatment works but man say they are greater than God ,let us fool mankind that they will continue believing a lie and never come to the truth
375 studies on ivermectin but there is no data available. Pfizer does a blood test on 12 people and it’s big news. 🤦♂️🤦♂️This is like a fisherman saying the fish don’t stink if u buy 3. O well, that’s business.
Well highlighted …
^^^^This.
Shorty, you will not be considered fully vaccinated until after your third jab; then that will soon change to the fourth jab. The emergence of the Omega variant will signal the end of the jabbing.
Event 201 and Cyber polygon are still in effect.
SPARS pandemic 2025 — 2028….Next!
The vaccinated will then be classed as unvaccinated … WHAT THEN?
By the time we get to the 10th variant of the virus, they’ll just hook us up and administer the vaccine intravenously
Two jabs couldn’t eradicate the virus and the delta variant, but this third dose will eradicated the omicron virus? One thing we think for sure, the virus will keep mutating and the owners of the pharmaceutical companies will keep reaping in the billions. We are looking forward to our forth jab six months from now as vaccinated individuals with three jabs are getting covid. And one jab every six months until we dead.
Correction, omicron variant.
People need to wake up and stop believing the lies of these greedy pharmaceutical companies only care about profits over lives, they say get vaccinated people comply to this so called herd immunity, then new variant another vaccine booster, new variant another vaccine over and over no ending? This is a pandemic of politicians and big pharmacy too much lies to control
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