New Israeli study shows that fourth COVID vaccine still does Not stop Omicron

Albert Einstein once said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.” The statement rings true to how we try to vaccinate ourselves out of the deadly coronavirus. In fact, the current vaccination approach to covid has been a colossal public health failure and hasn’t stopped the spread.

It is becoming increasingly clear that it’s no longer just about the pandemic but about chasing a moving target, potentially leading to a vicious vaccine cycle: Endless ‘variants,’ endless ‘boosters.’ Last summer, scientists discovered a new covid variant that evades both the mRNA and DNA vaccines.

Since then, pharma companies like Pfizers and Moderna continue to release new booster shots with much less spectacular success and with the hope that vaccines could get us out of this mess. But they’re wrong again.

A new study out of Israel found that even a fourth shot of a COVID-19 vaccine is “not good enough” to prevent Omicron. The preliminary study was carried out by Sheba Hospital in Israel last month. As part of the study, scientists tested a fourth shot given to more than 270 medical workers, with 154 getting the Pfizer jab and 120 receiving Moderna.

On Monday, the researchers revealed their findings. They found that both groups showed a “slightly higher” increase in antibodies than after the third shot — but the fourth booster is still not enough to prevent Omicron, the latest variant responsible for the vast majority of infections around the world.

“Despite increased antibody levels, the fourth vaccine only offers a partial defense against the virus,” said Dr. Gili Regev-Yochay, director of the hospital’s infection disease unit leading the study.

The study saw “many infected with Omicron who received the fourth dose,” she said. “Granted, a bit less than in the control group, but still a lot of infections.” Hours after the results of the study were released, Sheba Hospital called for “continuing the vaccination drive … even though the vaccine doesn’t provide optimal protection against getting infected with the variant.”

“We see an increase in antibodies, higher than after the third dose,” Regev-Yochay said. “However, we see many infected with Omicron who received the fourth dose. Granted, a bit less than in the control group, but still a lot of infections,” she added. “The bottom line is that the vaccine is excellent against the Alpha and Delta [variants], for Omicron it’s not good enough,” she said.

Israeli media also reported that the hospital was pressured into issuing that statement after the Health Ministry didn’t like the study’s results, according to a report from the Times of Israel.

This study further confirms another Danish study conducted by researchers at the University of Copenhagen, Statistics Denmark, and Statens Serum Institut. Researchers found that the Omicron variant evades the immunity of vaccinated individuals at a much faster pace compared to Delta, and at a higher rate than the unvaccinated.

The study included about 12,000 households conducted in December 2021 found that Omicron spreads faster than Delta among those who are fully vaccinated than the unvaccinated.

The study, which was conducted in December 2021, included 11,937 Danish households (2,225 with the Omicron VOC), researchers discovered 6,397 secondary infections during a 1-7 day follow-up period. The SAR was 31% and 21% in households with the Omicron and Delta VOC, respectively.