Pfizer protects young people from severe COVID-19, but Omicron reduces protection

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-03-31 08:00

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The level of protection the Pfizer vaccine provides to teens reduced during the Omicron era, according to international research. The researchers compared vaccinated and unvaccinated young people coming into hospital with and without COVID-19 to estimate vaccine effectiveness. They say during a Delta-dominant period the vaccine was 93 per cent effective against hospitalisations for teens aged 12-18 in the first 22 weeks after vaccination and 92 per cent effective at 23  to 44 weeks. During an Omicron-dominant period, they say the vaccine dropped to 40 per cent effective against hospitalisation but was 79 per cent effective against critical COVID-19. Among children aged 5-11 during Omicron, the researchers say the vaccine was 68 per cent effective against hospitalisation.