EMA continues to monitor emerging data on vaccine efficacy against disease COVID-19, including the disease caused by the Omicron variant, which is now spreading rapidly across the EU.
Although the Omicron variant appears to be more contagious than other variants, studies from South Africa, the United Kingdom, and some EU countries show a lower risk of hospitalization as a result of the Omicron variant infection. Based on these studies, the risk is currently estimated at between one-third and one-half compared to the corresponding risk of the Delta variant.
The results of recently published studies show that the efficacy of vaccines against symptomatic disease is lower for the Omicron variant than for other variants and tends to weaken over time. As a result, more vaccinated people are more likely to get the Omicron variant.
However, these studies also show that vaccination still provides a high level of protection against severe disease and hospitalization associated with the Omicron variant. Newer actual efficacy data also suggest that individuals receiving a booster dose have a better protection index than individuals receiving only their initial vaccination regimen. Data from South Africa show that people who have received two doses of the vaccine against the disease COVID-19 acquire up to 70% protection for hospitalization. Similar data from the United Kingdom show that while protection decreases a few months after vaccination, hospital protection increases again to 90% after the booster dose.
The EMA will continue to evaluate the data as it becomes available, regarding vaccine efficacy and disease severity, as well as developments regarding circulating variants and physical exposure to the Omicron variant. The outcome of these evaluations may influence future vaccination strategies recommended by experts in the EU / EEA Member States.
The EMA emphasizes that vaccination remains an essential part of the approach to tackling the current pandemic. In accordance with the recommendations of the national authorities, Efforts should continue to focus on increasing full vaccination coverage in people who are currently unvaccinated or partially vaccinated and accelerating boosting doses.