COVID-19 Boosters Slash Risk of Omicron-Related Death in Older People

Protection against Omicron-related death in people 50 and older reached as high as 95 percent after a booster dose of a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced Thursday.

The real-world UK data showed that the high level of protection against death was found in older individuals two weeks after receiving a Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna booster jab. And the elevated protection was irrespective of which primary vaccine the individual received, the agency said.

“The evidence is clear … the booster is offering high levels of protection from hospitalization and death in the most vulnerable members of our society,” said Mary Ramsay, UKHSA’s head of immunization.

The UK data also showed that mRNA boosters confer high levels of protection against hospitalization for all age groups.

A Pfizer/BioNTech booster was initially 90 percent effective against hospitalization before falling to 75 percent 10 to 14 weeks after vaccination. And a Moderna booster was up to 95 percent effective against hospitalization for 9 weeks after people received the shot.

The UKHSA data support recent real-world results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which found that an mRNA-based booster was 90 percent effective at preventing Omicron-related COVID-19 hospitalizations (DID, Jan. 24).

Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna this week announced the launch of adult trials to evaluate an Omicron-specific booster shot. — Jason Scott