Millions set for early FOURTH jab after it emerges booster effect starts wearing off after just 10 weeks: But major study finds Omicron is 70% less likely to cause hospitalisation as daily cases hit record 119,789
Protection against Omicron can wane to 35 per cent ten weeks after a Pfizer jab, new data has revealed
It has sparked further calls for a second round of boosters to ward off surge in cases among vaccinated
Nearly 120,000 Covid cases reported in 24 hours, highest since pandemic began and up 35% week on week
People infected with the contagious variant are 70 per cent less likely to end up in hospital, study shows
Hospital admissions hit four figures amid concern about mounting pressure on the NHS from Omicron strain
By James Tapsfield, Political Editor and Jack Newman and Joe Davies For Mailonline
Published: 11:41 EST, 23 December 2021 | Updated: 06:11 EST, 24 December 2021
A fourth jab could now be rolled out early to millions of Britons after a new study showed protection against Omicron wanes within three months of a booster.
People infected with the contagious variant are 70 per cent less likely to end up in hospital, an official analysis of real-world cases has confirmed.
But the analysis from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) also reveals that immunity from boosters fades more quickly against Omicron compared to Delta.
Those who received two AstraZeneca doses, plus a Pfizer or Moderna booster, have 60 per cent protection against Omicron for two to weeks after the third jab.
But after ten weeks, it drops to 35 per cent for Pfizer and 45 per cent for Moderna.
The figures are further prompting officials to consider speeding up the rollout of the fourth jab to ward off a future surge in cases among those who have already received boosters.
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10340385/Daily-Covid-cases-hit-new-record-119-789-hospitalisations-rise.html