Coronavirus cases are spiking worldwide, with the Omicron variant expected to become the dominant strain in multiple countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday said the Omicron variant of the Coronavirus is spreading faster than the Delta variant and is causing infections in people already vaccinated or who have recovered from the COVID-19 disease.
Qatar’s vaccination programme has seen the country continue to thrive to the extent that life has moved back toward some semblance of normalcy because of the protection vaccines have afforded. However, as immunity wanes, that protection is likely to diminish. Boosters have become essential in maintaining and hopefully improving normalcy.
Yesterday, Moderna disclosed that its booster shot “elicits a strong antibody response” against the Omicron variant of coronavirus, appearing to increase antibody levels even further than a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
Besides, BioNTech said that the third dose increases the level of “neautralising antibodies” against the new mutant as per results from recent lab studies.
According to senior health officials in Qatar, recent studies locally and internationally have shown that immunity declines in the majority of people six months after the second dose; hence, the Ministry of Public Health’s (MoPH) policy of offering booster doses.
“The increasing body of published research overwhelmingly supports the MOPH’s policy of offering the booster dose to all individuals who received their second vaccine dose more than six months ago,” said Dr. Abdullatif Al Khal, Chair of the National Health Strategic Group on COVID-19, Head of Infectious Diseases at Hamad Medical Corporation.
As Qatar registered an average of 170 infections in the last seven days and announced its first cases of Omicron, public health officials have emphasised that getting a booster jab makes people substantially less likely to become seriously ill if they are infected with a COVID-19 variant.
Dr. Al Khal added: “The booster dose significantly increases the individual’s immunity and provides longer-term protection against the virus. With the recent increase in cases in Qatar and the first cases of Omicron variant detected in the country, it is important that all members of the community continue to play their part by getting their booster vaccine dose. Recent studies show booster doses to be highly effective at preventing severe infection against the new Omicron variant, and it is very important that everyone who is eligible for the booster in Qatar has maximum protection.”
