Almost all brands of COVID-19 vaccines have decreased efficacy against the Omicron variant of COVID, a local vaccine expert said Monday, adding a possible “fourth dose” is already “on the radar” of the government panel.
Dr. Nina Gloriani, chairperson of the Vaccine Expert Panel, said the group has yet to discuss the inoculation of fourth COVID-19 dose to the general population but she said this is already on their “radar.”
“To be honest, the idea of a fourth dose has not been discussed in the all experts group but of course, we need to include that on our radar,” she said.
A study was earlier released indicating that Sinovac’s two-dose COVID-19 vaccine followed by a booster Pfizer-BioNTech shot showed a lower immune response against the Omicron variant compared with other strains.
“Not only Sinovac but almost all the vaccines that we have right now have lower protection against the Omicron variant,” she said.
Some vaccines are 30 to 40 percent less effective against Omicron compared to the Delta variant, she added.
Gloriani reiterated the importance of having at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine to avoid hospitalization.
A person who is vaccinated with one dose of COVID-19 vaccine could have at most 52 percent protection against hospitalization, she said.
Those who got two doses are 72 percent protected against critical cases of Omicron while those who got their booster shots could have around 90 percent protection.
Gloriani said the “neutralizing antibodies” produced from the inoculation of COVID-19 vaccines are only a first line of protection.
There is another defense mechanism in the body called “T Cells” which is a “cellular-mediated immunity” that protects a person against a severe form of COVID-19 for a long period of time.
She said it was “too soon” to discuss proposals to vaccinate people every three months against COVID-19.
“We could not decide on this until we get more data because it is also not good to get another dose when you still have a high level of immunity. I am talking about the general population and not those who are immunocompromised. Because if you still have a high level of antibody, the booster shot will have no effect.” she said.
Meanwhile, authorities appealed to the public not to falsify their COVID-19 vaccination card, saying such an act was punishable by law and local ordinances.
While Metro Manila is under Alert Level 3, commercial establishments and public transport will require customers and passengers to present proof of vaccination together with identification cards before they will be allowed to enter the establishments and conveyances.
Chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said any person or any establishment who falsifies the COVID-19 vaccine card shall be prosecuted based on local government ordinances and Section 12 of Republic Act 11525 or the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act of 2021.
Violators will be slapped with a fine of not less than P20,000 but not more than P50,000 or imprisonment of at least two to six months.