How effective is the fourth dose? Israel announces further arrangements

The omicron is spreading rapidly around the world, in response some countries decide to administer the fourth dose of the vaccine. How effective is it? The level of antibodies was slightly higher than after the third immunization – preliminary results of the first such study in the world. A week ago it was announced by the Israeli Medical Center Sheba. On January 23, the Israeli health ministry shared further findings.

1. Israel was the first country in the world to start administering the fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine
2. On January 17, the results of the preliminary study on the fourth dose, led by the Szeba Medical Center in Tel Aviv, were announced. They showed that the fourth dose increased the antibody levels slightly more than the third dose
3. A few days later, the Israeli health ministry announced preliminary data analyzes of the data of hundreds of thousands of Israelis who took the second booster dose
4. The work suggests that people after the fourth dose are three times more protected from the severe course of COVID-19 than those who took the three immunizations. The extent to which this dose protects against infection in the wave driven by Omikron is also given
5. More information can be found on the Onet homepage

Fourth dose and Omikron. First research results

Israel was the first country in the world to decide on the fourth dose. Israelis over the age of 60, medical personnel and immunocompromised people are eligible for it. The administration of the fourth immunization started there on December 31st. At the same time, the largest hospital in Israel – the Sheba Medical Center – began testing a second booster dose. Approximately 270 health workers took part in it. 154 people received the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, 120 people received the Moderny vaccine (previously they had received three doses of the Pfizer vaccine). The results were compared with the control group that did not receive the fourth dose.

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On January 17, Dr. Gili Regev-Yochay, director of the Infection Prevention and Control Unit of Sheba Medical Center, announced the results of the analysis, stating that they were “very preliminary and ahead of any publication”. ‘We are providing them because we understand the urgent need for the public to obtain all possible information about the fourth dose,’ emphasized Dr Regev-Yochay.

Further part below the video.

The analyzes showed that the fourth dose increased the level of antibodies to a slightly greater extent than the third. One week after the fourth dose of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine, the antibody levels were similar to that of the third injection, and over time the scientists identified a further increase. The study also showed that the antibody levels following immunization with Pfizer and Moderna were the same (analysis one week after vaccination) and that both vaccines were equally safe. It was also considered that the level of antibodies after the fourth dose is probably not enough to prevent Omikron infections. More on the study in the text: Fourth dose protects against Omicron? A hospital in Israel announces the results of the research.

How does the fourth dose work? Israel’s Department of Health Announces the Results of a Large Study

Less than a week after the results of the work of the Sheba Medical Center were announced, the Israeli Ministry of Health shared another study on the effects of the fourth dose. This time, the analyzes concerned data from hundreds of thousands of elderly people. In total, the survey covered one million Israelis: 400. those who received the fourth dose and the 600 who received the first booster dose at least four months earlier. Experts from leading Israeli academic and health institutions were involved in the study.

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After comparing the statistical data of both groups, it turned out that people after the fourth dose are three times more protected against the severe course of COVID-19 than those who took three vaccinations. Moreover, the fourth dose offers double protection against infection in the wave driven by Omikron. The Israeli Ministry of Health emphasizes that these findings are preliminary and that as more data becomes available, they will be systematically updated.

The announcement of the above findings came two days after the CDC published the first major study on the effectiveness of the third dose on Omicron. There are three works announced on January 21. They suggest that a booster dose provides “substantial protection” against both infection and symptomatic COVID-19 (although this protection was higher for Delta than for Omicron).

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“Protection against infection and hospitalization due to Omicron is highest for those who are up to date with vaccinations, that is, have received a booster dose,” emphasized CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, recalling that “there are still millions of people who qualify for a booster dose and they have not received it yet ».

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