The third dose of COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer offers strong protection against the omicron coronavirus variant, according to reports published Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The data show that it is 90% effective in preventing hospitalization in another wave of omicron-dominated infections.
The reports are based, among other things, on information on visits by people infected with the coronavirus to hospitals and COVID-19 patients in the emergency room between August 2021 and January 5 this year. During the delta wave of infections, vaccines were 94 percent effective at preventing hospitalization, and 90 percent during omicron domination.
Looking at people who had received two doses of the vaccines, the data showed an 81 percent success rate for omicron up to 6 months after the second dose and 57 percent after six months.
Main photo source: SEBASTIEN NOGIER / PAP / EPA