How do we know the effect of boosters? | David Spiegelhalter and Anthony Masters
by David Spiegelhalter and Anthony Masters from Science | The Guardian on (#5S5S0)
Like seatbelts, vaccines lower risk and two studies reveal the protection that a third jab offers
Last week, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported encouraging research on booster doses. That analysis estimated that, compared with the preceding waned protection, the booster reduced the risks of symptomatic Covid-19 disease in people over 50 by around 85%.
Compared with not being vaccinated at all, a booster gave similar protection to that obtained soon after two Pfizer/BioNTech doses. Encouragingly, this reduction occurred regardless of the initial vaccine, implying Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccinees have more protection after the booster dose than ever.
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