It has been uncertain how effective the updated vaccines will be against the new virus variants, which have already made their way into Norway. In the past, the vaccine manufacturers have carried out their own laboratory tests which have shown increased protection against the new variants. Now the first major survey among 360,000 people shows that the effect is good. The study was published by the American public health institute CDC, earlier this week. Good effect on younger adults The survey showed that the vaccines gave greater benefit to those aged 18-49 than to older adults. When given eight months or more after the previous dose, the booster dose prevented symptomatic disease by 56 percent among people aged 18–49. Those in the 50–64 age group had 48 per cent better protection. For those aged 65 and over, protection was reduced to 43 per cent. The effect dropped to 28–31 percent, when the boosters were given just two to three months after the previous vaccination. The US’s outgoing chief of infectious diseases, Anthony Fauci, is asking Americans to take the updated vaccine. Photo: STEFANI REYNOLDS / AFP The survey was carried out when the omicron variants BA.4/5 were dominant in the USA. It is unclear how effective the vaccines will be against new variants that appear. In his last press conference on Tuesday, the outgoing head of the United States’ infectious disease control, Anthony Fauci, asked the public to take a booster dose of the vaccine as soon as possible. – My last message is that you, for your own safety, for your family’s, get your updated vaccine as quickly as possible. To protect yourself, your family and the community, Fauci said. – Good news – The study shows that it can be worthwhile to get a refresher dose for those aged 18-65. Especially for those who have only received two doses previously, and it has been more than 8 months since the last vaccine. This is good news, says professor and immunologist Anne Spurkland. – Would you recommend people in this age group to get vaccinated? – It must be up to each individual, but why not get the extra protection? If, on the other hand, you have received several vaccines, and have recently undergone illness, it is probably not necessary, says Spurkland. Professor and immunologist Anne Spurkland. Photo: Heidi Klokk The immunologist believes the survey shows that the updated corona vaccines are just as effective as the traditional flu vaccine. – For the time being, FHI will not issue a recommendation for everyone to take this vaccine. Should they do it now? – In any case, they should not talk down the importance of the vaccine. There has been a lot of uncertainty around this, since it was opened so that anyone under the age of 18 could receive this booster dose. We must remember that this is the first vaccine that is directly aimed at the omicron virus, says Spurkland, who clarifies that most people are already protected against death and serious illness. FHI: Calls for more knowledge – This is a single survey which we read with interest. We prefer to see such individual investigations together with other knowledge. Both the one we already have, and what is coming in the future, says department director Are Stuwitz Berg at the Institute of Public Health. Department director Are Stuwitz Berg in the Institute of Public Health. Photo: Torstein Bøe / NTB He believes the study says nothing about the duration of the protection the vaccines provide. – The study shows that at the time the study participants were tested, those who received an updated vaccine had better protection against infection, compared to those who had not received this booster dose. A maximum of 2 months had passed since the booster dose with the updated vaccine was given. What we do know about protection against infection is that it is relatively short-lived. The duration depends on how good a match there is between the circulating virus and the antibodies the vaccine provides. – The study says nothing about the duration of the protection against serious illness, which is, after all, the most important thing. As the authors say themselves, the study has many limitations that can affect the result, so we think it will also be interesting to see what further studies of this will show, says Stuwitz Berg. – The survey shows that the effect of these vaccines is greatest among those aged 18–49. Does this change the FHI’s assessment of not recommending the vaccine in the 18-64 age group? – There is quite a difference in vaccine coverage and immunity in the population in Norway and in the USA, so there may not be completely comparable assessments that are made. In Norway, we have good data showing that the younger people aged 18–49 are well protected against serious illness through previous vaccination, previous infection, or both. – This is the basis for our vaccine advice. A summary of previous research shows that those who have been infected, vaccinated or both before are very well protected against serious illness and hospitalization due to omicron infection now, says Stuwitz Berg.
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New corona vaccines have a good effect – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
