THE MANUFACTURERS of a coronavirus vaccine used around the world yesterday confirmed a third dose of their jab "neutralises" the Omicron variant.

Pfizer and BioNTech said receiving a third booster dose yields similar levels of protection against the new variant compared to the level of defence two doses of their vaccine offers against existing coronavirus strains.

"Results from an initial laboratory study demonstrating that serum antibodies induced by the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine neutralise the SARSCoV-2 Omicron variant after three doses," the companies announced in a trading update yesterday.

The update comes as Prime Minister Boris Johnson last night launched the government's plan B measures in England to curb the spread of Omicron.

Work from home advice has been reinstated and people will have to wear masks in a wider range of settings under the new rules.

Proof of Covid-19 status will also be required to enter larger venues such as football stadiums and nightclubs.

Albert Bourla, chairman and chief executive of Pfizer, said: "Although two doses of the vaccine may still offer protection against severe disease caused by the Omicron strain, it's clear from these preliminary data that protection is improved with a third dose of our vaccine."

Initial findings show "a third dose could still offer a sufficient level of protection from disease of any severity caused by the Omicron variant," said Ugur Sahin, chief executive and cofounder of BioNTech.

Sahin echoed Bourla's call for countries across the world to step up their booster vaccination programmes "to better protect people everywhere and to get through the winter season," he said.

Although the findings were upbeat, the results of the study are preliminary.

However, they are the first indication from a key vaccine maker that suggest existing jabs could hold back the Omicron variant.

(c) 2021 City A.M., source Newspaper