Israeli study finds fourth COVID-19 vaccine dose boosts antibodies five-fold, PM says

Bennett says preliminary data from Sheba Medical Center's survey shows second booster is safe and will likely mean significant protection against infection, hospitalizations and severe symptoms
Reuters|
A fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine boosts antibodies five-fold a week after the shot is administered, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Tuesday, citing preliminary findings of an Israeli study.
  • Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter

  • "A week into the fourth dose we know to a higher degree of certainty that the fourth dose is safe," Bennett said at Sheba Medical Center, which is giving second booster shots in a trial among its staff amid a nationwide surge in Omicron variant infections.
    2 View gallery
    בני ובנות 60+ מקבלים חיסון קורונה רביעי באשקלון
    בני ובנות 60+ מקבלים חיסון קורונה רביעי באשקלון
    A man receives his fourth coronavirus vaccine at a clinic in Ashdod
    (Photo: Barel Ephraim)
    "The second piece of news: We know that a week after administration of a fourth dose, we see a five-fold increase in the number of antibodies in the vaccinated person," he told reporters.
    "This most likely means a significant increase against infection and ... hospitalization and (severe) symptoms," Bennett said in English.
    Israel has played a leading role in studying the effects of COVID-19 vaccines, as the fastest country to roll out two-dose inoculations to a wide population a year ago and one of the first to give third shots as boosters. It is now administering fourth doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to people over 60, health workers and immunocompromised patients.
    2 View gallery
     נחמן אש
     נחמן אש
    Health Ministry Director-General Prof. Nachman Ash receives his second booster shot
    (Photo: Ranaan Ben-Zur)
    Earlier on Tuesday, Health Ministry Director-General Prof. Nachman Ash received his fourth vaccine shot.
    "It is very exciting for me to be here and get the fourth shot, the second booster," he said. "This is a very, very contagious variant, as we see. Morbidity rises and surges every day. The best answer is the vaccine."
    Comments
    The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
    ""