Israel study: Fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose not effective against Omicron

Update (Jan. 17, 2022): New research from a hospital in Israel released Monday found a fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine only provided limited defense against the Omicron variant of the virus. The clinical trial, which looked at more than 270 medical workers who got the fourth dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, found those who got their fourth dose saw “slightly higher” antibody levels. However, the increase in antibodies did not prevent the spread of the variant.

“Despite increased antibody levels, the fourth vaccine only offers a partial defense against the virus,” said Dr. Gili Regev-Yochay, director of the hospital’s infection disease unit. “The vaccines, which were more effective against previous variants, offer less protection versus Omicron.”

Israel currently allows its over-60 population to get a fourth dose of the vaccine. The Israeli government says over 500,000 people have received their fourth dose in recent weeks.

Update (Jan. 3, 2022): Just days after Israel approved a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose for the country’s vulnerable populations, the country expanded eligibility for the fourth dose to Israelis 60 years and older, as well as medical workers. Anyone from those eligible groups has been invited to come forward, as long as they got their third dose more than four months ago. The video above shows people getting their fourth dose Monday

“I came here because I want to protect my patients, I want to protect my family, my wife, my kids,” Dr. Idan Militcher, an Israeli doctor who got his fourth dose Monday, said. “And I think that each one of us who will get a vaccination, COVID-19 will go away in 2022 as soon as possible.”

Original Story (Dec. 30, 2021): Israel Health Ministry Director-General Nachman Ash approved a fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose for the country’s vulnerable populations Thursday. In a press conference, Ash said those with weakened immune systems would be first in line to get a fourth dose. Israel’s Sheba Medical Center said it would start administering the fourth dose to heart transplant patients early Friday.

“We will continue to track the data on a daily basis and we will see if we need to broaden this recommendation to more of the population,” Ash said Thursday.

Israel launched trials of the fourth dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine earlier this week, administering it to some 150 medical personnel who had gotten a booster in August. Just like with the third dose, Israel is set to become one of the first countries in the world to roll out a fourth dose.

“Israel will lead the way in administering a fourth vaccine [dose] to the Israeli people,” Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in a statement. “Israel’s strategy for overcoming omicron is clear: The greater the wave, the greater the protection we will need to overcome it.”

Meanwhile back in the United States, U.S. health officials are struggling to get nursing home staffers to get their third doses. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra appealed to the industry in a live stream Thursday.

“We can’t afford another COVID-19 surge in nursing homes,” Becerra said. “You know that. I know that. Higher numbers of COVID cases would likely once again have a devastating impact on our loved ones … and we know we just have to work doubly hard to keep them safe.”

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cases among nursing home staffers jumped to 10,353 for the week ending Dec. 27. That was a rise of nearly 80% from the previous week. In addition, staff deaths tripled to 58.

Meanwhile, resident cases only went up slightly, while the data showed no increase in deaths. According to Bercerra, 57% of nursing home residents and only 25% of staff and have gotten boosters.