Latest study reveals Covid boosters 88% effective at preventing severe Omicron disease

BOOOSTERS protects 88% from hospitalization with Omicron, new data revealed today.

The encouraging new findings come as Britons are encouraged to get an extra dose of the Covid vaccine to beat this variant.

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Health and Social Care Minister Sajid Javid said: “This is more promising data that reinforces the importance of vaccines. They save lives and prevent serious illness.

“This analysis shows that you are eight times more likely to be hospitalized with a Covid-19 shot if you are not vaccinated.

“It’s never too late to take your first dose and it’s important for everyone to continue to get a boost now as we head into the new year.”

A string of extremely active research found Omicron IS milder than other strains, with the first official UK report revealing the risk of hospitalization as 50 to 70% lower than Delta.

Health officials have repeatedly said the Covid booster shots protect against Omicron and offer the best chance of weathering the pandemic.

The Sun’s Jabs Army campaign is helping to get vital additional vaccines in the UK’s arms to avoid the need for any new restrictions.

UKHSA and Cambridge University’s MRC Biostatistics Unit found the vaccine to be effective in preventing serious disease caused by Omicron.

A single dose of vaccine was associated with a 35% reduction in the risk of hospitalization among symptomatic cases with the Omicron variant.

Two doses reduced the risk by 67% for up to 24 weeks after the second dose and by 51% in risk 25 weeks or more after the second dose.

Vaccine efficacy against hospitalization was estimated to be 52% after one dose, 72% two to 24 weeks after the second dose, 52% for 25 weeks or more after dose 2, and 88% two weeks after the second dose. booster dose.

Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at UKHSA, said: “The latest set of analysis is consistent with the encouraging signs we have seen.

“However, it is still too early to draw any firm conclusions about the severity of the hospitalisation, and the increased transmissibility of Omicron and the increased cases in the population over 60 years of age in the United States. The UK means there is still a high chance there will be significant pressure on the NHS in the coming weeks.

“The data again shows that injecting drugs into the body, especially the third dose, is the best way to protect yourself and others against infection and serious illness.”

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Earlier this month, experts concluded variant – which brought Britain out of the pandemic – does not cause a less serious illness than Delta in most people.

UKHSA also confirmed that two doses of the vaccine were not enough to provide strong protection, but a booster dose significantly reduced the risk of symptomatic infection and hospitalisation.

Their findings echo the results of countless health officials, who have repeatedly said that the Covid-boosting injection protects against Omicron and offers the best chance of weathering the pandemic.

It comes as the number of people hospitalized with Covid in the UK increased by 50% in the week before Christmas – but a THIRD was hospitalized for other health problems.

About 33% of all Covid-positive people in the hospital are found to have the virus as a secondary problem, new data shows today.

That means, while cases and hospitalizations have increased, a large portion of them are not serious enough to require hospitalization but end up there for other reasons.

PROMOTION SIGNS

New data released today from NHS England shows that on December 18 there were 709 new Covid patients in the hospital and by December 26 this had increased to 1,338.

But the figures also support expert studies that show Omicron is milder than other Covid variants, as so far only a small percentage need serious care.

Boris Johnson pleaded in his New Year’s Eve speech: “I want to speak directly to all those who are not fully immunized.

“Those who think illness can’t hurt them, look at the people entering the hospital now. That could be you.

“Look at the intensive care units and the wretched, unnecessary suffering of those who do not receive their enhancement. That could be you.

“So make it your New Year’s resolution. Find a walking center or make an appointment online. Take that and do something that will make 2022 a happy new year for all of us. “

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