There is some protection against Omicron with current vaccines, Elizabeth Tracey reports

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If you’ve had three doses of an mRNA vaccine against Covid you are much less likely to require hospitalization, require ICU level care, or die from Covid-19, even with the now dominant Omicron variant, than if you aren’t vaccinated at all. Anna Durbin, an infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins, explains.

Durbin: With Omicron the mutations make it more of an escape. The antibodies prevent infection and its incredibly difficult for any vaccine to prevent a respiratory infection, so it’s not surprising that we’re seeing far less efficacy against infection with Omicron and that we’re seeing more disease and I think what’s really important to note is that we still see some good protection against severe disease even in those who have not been boosted yet.  :31

Durbin notes that those who are eligible for their third dose should get it as soon as possible. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.