Two-Dose Vaccines Aren’t Enough to Protect Against Omicron. Could More Boosters Turn the Tide?

New data out of the United Kingdom confirm what has been presumed (and been concerning): The two-dose regimen of vaccination against COVID-19 is insufficient to protect against the Omicron variant. This isn’t surprising, given the fact that so many people are vaccinated but cases are climbing around the world, including in the United States. However, the University of Oxford researchers did not find evidence that infection with Omicron led to increased risk for severe disease, hospitalization, or death in vaccinated people who contracted that variant of the virus. Following on the heels of news last week that booster shots restore protection against even mild disease with the Omicron variant, according to the UK Health Security Agency, consider this a call to continue promoting the benefits of full vaccination and booster shots.