A booster dose of Covid vaccine reduces the chance of infection by 2/3 compared with two jabs. This is according to mass surveillance.
Data from the REACT study — which randomly tested more than 100,000 people up between October 19 and November 5 — found the third doses provide a significant boost to immunity.
Out of more than 8300 participants who were given boosters, only 30 (3.36%) became infected. This was after the immunity kicks in at 2 weeks.
This compares to the nearly 700 (6.03%) who were infected with two different doses in that time period.
After adjusting for age and other factors, the Imperial College London researchers said this meant the odds of breakthrough infection was cut by two-thirds.
Paul Elliot was an epidemiologist and the leader of the study.
This is after ONS data showed that people who have had a Covid booster for at least one year are less likely to catch Covid than those who were not.
Amanda Pritchard (CEO of NHS England) revealed yesterday that NHS England plans to start distributing boosters annually.
The risk of getting infected by Covid booster doses is two-thirds lower than two jabs according to a massive surveillance. Graph: This graph shows the proportion of unvaccinated people (lightest), who have received one dose (second-lightest), two doses (2nd darkest), and their booster dose (darkest) across different age groups.
Graph shows: The proportion of people who were infected with Covid between October 19 and November 5 (orange bar) compared to between September 9 and 27 (grey bar) in different age groups
Graph shows: The proportion of people who were infected with Covid between October 19 and November 5 (orange bar) compared to between September 9 and 27 (grey bar) in different regions in England
Top-up dosages in the UK were approved in September for patients with severe illnesses, over-50s and health care workers in the UK. Ministers extended the program to include people into their 40s this week.
Britain’s vaccine advisors admit that they can be given to children younger than 18 years old, although they wait for further evidence of their efficacy and safety.
In a sign of the direction of travel, NHS England boss Amanda Pritchard yesterday said the health service is already putting plans in place to deliver a yearly Covid booster vaccine campaign in Britain.
Today, Professor Elliot spoke at a briefing. He said that the exam question was “You’ve been twice vaccinated but your immunity is declining.” Is it possible to boost immunity by adding a third dose?
“Boosters can be very effective,” says the author.
He said the booster programme was ‘fantastically impressive’ and he was ‘very hopeful’ it means cases will not surge over winter.
He added: ‘The booster is being rolled out to hundreds of thousands each day. We’ve shown the really positive effects of the booster on double vaccinated people.
‘Getting a third dose for double-vaccinated adults will reduce the potential for transmission as we go into the winter period.
‘It remains essential that the booster programme in the UK is rapidly able to reach the vast majority of the more vulnerable population to prevent further pressure on health services from waning immunity.’
Associate Professor in Cellular Microbiology at University of Reading Dr Simon Clarke said that the results show how important the booster program is in keeping cases from becoming overwhelming this winter.
He added, “REACT continues the demonstration of vaccine efficacy in adults.
“These data show a significant difference in infection risk if the vaccine booster was given to these patients,” said Dr. Severin.
“As we approach winter, it highlights the significance of the government’s booster campaign in maintaining a tight lid on both infection number and risk of restrictions for Christmas.
According to the study, infections in schoolchildren were at their highest. Around one in twenty five-year olds and 17-yearolds tested positive.
Due to the spreading of the virus in households, parents of schoolchildren were more likely to be positive.
The vaccine was administered to children, who were 56% less likely than others to contract Covid.
The study said speeding up the children’s jab rollout must be a ‘high priority’ over winter. Only one third of teenagers in Britain have received vaccinations so far.
Dr Clarke said: “The recent government data show an increase in infection, which highlights how dissections of daily changes in infected persons does not give us any indication of what will happen in the future.”
The ‘Infection Numbers are not an indication of the future, but a report on current conditions. It is uncertain what the future holds.
The REACT data shows that the single vaccination of over-12-year-olds reduces their risk of getting the virus. This is because they are more likely to spread it to others.
It doesn’t matter how effective vaccines might be in reducing the spread of coronavirus from an infected person, if you don’t catch it, it won’t spread.
He added: “Alarmingly national about 1 in 20 children of school age were infected in this stage in the REACT study.
“This situation might improve with improved vaccine rollout, uptake, and authorization of a second dose for the age group.