New study on the fourth corona vaccination: Only "minor benefit" in young adults

Created: 03/17/2022, 16:47

By: Momir Takac

According to a study from Israel, a fourth corona vaccination at Omikron brings little benefit to young and healthy adults.

© Fabian Sommer/dpa

The benefit of a fourth corona vaccination against the omicron variant is controversial.

A new study from Israel confirms the concerns - at least for one group.

Tel Aviv - Israel was always a little ahead of Germany in the corona pandemic.

The vaccination campaign against the corona virus started early in the country and made rapid progress.

Israel was also at the top of the list when it came to second and booster vaccinations.

And Israel also made steam with the fourth corona vaccination.

Already at the end of December 2021, people with immunodeficiency, seniors over 60 and medical staff could have the fourth dose injected.

Weeks later, the recommendation for everyone over the age of 18 followed.

Corona: Study confirms little benefit of fourth vaccination in young and healthy adults

Consequently, the first studies on the effectiveness of corona vaccinations were also carried out in Israel.

So also now for the group of young adults.

It confirmed what Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, among others, had already suspected about a fourth corona vaccination: The Israeli study, which has now been published in the

, only attested to young and healthy adults who received an mRNA vaccine

a "minor benefit".

The study looked at 270 workers at the Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv.

They had received a fourth corona vaccination four months after a booster with Moderna or Biontech.

Each subject was compared with two participants in a control group who received only three doses of vaccine.

According to a study from Israel, the fourth corona vaccination only slightly reduces the risk of infection

On the one hand, a fourth dose - as well as shortly after a third vaccination - increased the number of neutralizing antibodies that prevent the coronavirus from penetrating the cells.

However, a second refresher hardly offered any additional protection against infection with the Omicron variant.

In subjects who were vaccinated about a fourth time with Biontech/Pfizer, the risk of infection was only reduced by 30 percent compared to those who were vaccinated three times.

Study participants who received Moderna's Spikevax as their fourth vaccination had an 18 percent lower risk of infection.

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Study on the fourth corona vaccination: Declining immunity is restored, but not increased

The authors of the study concluded that with the existing mRNA vaccines, an 'upper limit' is reached in the immune response after three vaccinations.

Boosters would restore immunity that wears off over time, but won't increase it.

"Furthermore, we observed low vaccine efficacy against infections in healthcare workers, as well as relatively high viral loads, suggesting those infected were contagious.

Therefore, a fourth shot of healthy, young workers may have little benefit," the study said.