QUESTION about omicron/AZ/boosters efficacy.

[heldinadream]

I’m going to try and be very clear about what I’m asking. So I’ve seen it reported, by the BBC and Sky, not randoms, that the Astra Zeneca vac x2 looks as if it gives 0% protection against omicron after 6 months. I’ve also seen it reported that boosted people are by far the best protected. What I haven’t seen is anyone join up these two pieces of info. So where – if anyone knows yet – does that leave someone who, like me, has had two doses of AZ and then a Pfizer booster?

Am I protected like any other boosted/3 jabbed person, or should I consider myself potentially back at only having had, in effect, one jab? Very grateful if anyone has any insight into this so I can decide whether I’m at more risk than it would seem. Thank you.

Is it possible to get AZ as a booster? Dd reckons she only wants AZ and is being pig headed saying no to others as worried about her dna being scrambled.

@Exhausteddog

I thought i saw on the news yday (itv) that 2 x AZ = 30% protection 2 x AZ plus Pfizer booster =70% protection 2 x Pfizer plus Pfizer booster = 75% protection

I dont have a link but thats what I remember from the news (but maybe I wasn't paying attention)

No, it's:

AZ x 2 0%
PF/Mod x 2 30%

Any of the above + PF/Mid booster 70-75%

@CovidCorvid

Is it possible to get AZ as a booster? Dd reckons she only wants AZ and is being pig headed saying no to others as worried about her dna being scrambled.

No AZ is pointless as a booster and is not being offered due to it being ineffective against Omicron.

Only Pfizer & Moderna (both MRNA) are offered as boosters.

I don’t know if there’s much data on this yet but would be interested to know how adding in natural immunity (caused by infection) adds to protection (as in, on top of 2 jabs and booster).

I keep seeing 2x AZ is zero against Omicron to just had covid so totally at risk as can’t have 3rd jab for a whole month now.

@Cookerhood

That's not what she's asking, she's asking if there is data for 2AZ plus Moderna.

You see where I said 'regardless of which vaccine you had previously?' That mean that is die at matter whether you had AZ, Pfizer or Moderna for doses 1 and 2, the booster efficacy is the same.

The data is is the UKHSA VoC Technical Briefing, the relevant data and graphs on page 21:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/1040076/TechnicalBriefing_31.pdf

No AZ is pointless as a booster and is not being offered due to it being ineffective against Omicron.
It was decided that AZ wouldn't be used as a booster long before Omicrom came along. The reason for that is that in studies the mRNA were shown to produce a better response as a booster. AZ is thoguht to give better T cell response so may actually be a better bet as cellular immunity is better preserved with the variants.

@Akire

I keep seeing 2x AZ is zero against Omicron to just had covid so totally at risk as can’t have 3rd jab for a whole month now.

You're not totally at risk...just having had covid is a massive help. Try not to worry and get the booster as soon as you're able to.

I keep seeing 2x AZ is zero against Omicron to just had Covid so totally at risk as can’t have 3rd jab for a whole month now.
It's not zero. It is still expected to be efefctive against serious disease & hospitalisation, just not so good regarding sympomatic disease.

I don't think we'll have conclusive evidence for a while yet. Very few people in South Africa had AZ because they stopped using it very early on. We'll have a clearer picture in a few weeks when we have more data from people who have been infected. Many, many Brits have now had the 2 x AZ and Pfizer booster combo, so fingers crossed.

I had that combo too, OP, and I feel gutted, because I was finally at a very high level of protection against Delta, but initial signs look good - possibly 70% protection or so against getting any symptoms at all.

We don’t know how much protection 2az or 2pfizer gives you against serious illness. There is not enough data - we can assume it would offer some protection though.

2az gives practically no protection against symptomatic omicron though and 2pfizer was like 30% I think.

With boosters it rises to 70 and 75 ish respectively. Again, we don’t know about serious illness protection.

@PastMyBestBeforeDate

Is it the third jab or a recent booster that's the key? My 15 year old has had 2 Pfizer jabs but I'm unclear whether that's effective now or not.

It’s the third jab which raises antibody levels 5-19 fold over peak antibodies after two doses. However as young make more antibodies than older people a 15 year old may have protection after two doses. If it’s 30-40% after two Pfizer as an average a 15 year old will be on the higher end. Two doses should be fine for serious illness anyway.

I think it's a very important point that very few people in South Africa have had AZ. The authors themselves say that the data may not be reliable. Unfortunately it's caused mass panic on here.
Have a look at the data, folks, it may be worrying but we need to wait for more information.

JS thanks. Fortunately she's healthy but it's the household spread risk that is the reason for her two jabs. I had hoped it would be higher.