Stock image: Nurse prepares vaccines
(Picture: PA Archive)Covid boosters increase protection against death from the Omicron variant to 95% in people aged 50 and over, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on Thursday.
Protection against death from Omicron is at around 60% in those aged 50 and over just six months after a second dose of any Covid vaccines, the UKHSA said.
Booster jabs amp up this protection to around 95% just two weeks after the third dose is administered.
It also provides high levels of protection from hospitalisation, the UKHSA said latest data showed.
The Pfizer-BioNTech shot had a 90% effectiveness against hospitalisation, dropping to 75% 10-14 weeks after the booster.
Moderna jabs offer 90-95% effectiveness against hospitalisation up to 9 weeks after the booster.
Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at UKHSA, said: “The evidence is clear – the vaccine helps to protect us all against the effects of COVID-19 and the booster is offering high levels of protection from hospitalisation and death in the most vulnerable members of our society.”
Initial analysis of vaccine effectiveness against the Omicron sublineage called BA.2 found a similar level of protection against symptomatic disease, the UKHSA said.
“After two doses effectiveness was 9% and 13% respectively for BA.1 and BA.2, after 25+ weeks,” the UKHSA said.
“This increased to 63% for BA.1 and 70% for BA.2 from two weeks following a booster vaccine.”
BA.2 was classified as a variant under investigation and 426 cases were reported in its latest update on January 21 - 146 of those were in London.
Meanwhile, the UK recorded another 96,871 Covid cases and 338 deaths as infections soar among young children.
Plan B measures were eased further with face masks no longer required in most public settings.
However, TfL have asked commuters to continue to wear masks on the Tube and on buses while supermarket giants have been encouraging shoppers to keep the coverings.
