They analyzed how antibodies and other key immune cells fared against Omicron in a laboratory setting.
Still, the authors said that the variant did not totally thwart the vaccine elicited immunity.
T-cells, which kill infected cells, may still attack the variant.
Verywell Health / Jessica Olah
Omicron contains some mutations in the spike proteinthe part of the virus that grants it entry into human cells.
This may mean the vaccines can prevent severe illness, despite the drop in antibody levels.
Researchers are still studying how the available vaccines hold up against the Omicron variant in clinical and real-world studies.
In the meantime, vaccine manufacturers including Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson are developingOmicron-specific vaccines.
The new data, Wen said, reinforces the message that people should receive abooster shotas soon as possible.
The most important thing that people should guard themselves against is still the Delta variant, Wen said.
The same things that protect against Delta will protect against Omicron.
Specifically, getting a booster dose is urgent and essential.
Its not just a nice to haveits really crucial.
COVID-19 Data Tracker: Variant Proportions.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
