A small study of seven COVID-19 cases in South Africa shows the Omicron variant can easily break through COVID-19 vaccine booster shots, one of the scientists involved said on Thursday (Dec. 16).
A group of seven German visitors to Cape Town were infected at some point in late November or early December with confirmed cases of the Omicron variant. Of the group, six were fully vaccinated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, of whom five had also had a Pfizer booster shot while the sixth had received a Monderna booster shot. A seventh had received an initial dose of AstraZeneca’s vaccine, followed by a second and then third booster dose of Pfizer. None had reported past infection with COVID-19.
The infections occurred between one and two months after receipt of the booster shot.
Wolfgang Preiser, a virologist at Stellenbosch University and the main scientist behind the research, told Reuters the study —currently under peer review—showed infection was possible and caused symptomatic disease even after a COVID-19 booster shot
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