WASHINGTON : A research published in the journal Cell has revealed that the current vaccines being used to fight the novel coronavirus can also prevent severe diseases caused by the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
These vaccines prompt the body to make effective, long-lasting T cells against SARS-CoV-2 that can recognise variants of concern, including Omicron, and protect from severe disease, according to the study.
The research also shows that fully vaccinated people have fewer memory B cells and neutralising antibodies against the Omicron variant.
Both T and B cells play an important role in the immune response against an infection. Scientists at La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) in the US tested four COVID-19 vaccines -- Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, J&J/Janssen, and Novavax. "The vast majority of T cell responses are still effective against Omicron," said study co-leader Alessandro Sette, a professor at LJI. "These cells won't stop you from getting infected, but in many cases they are likely to keep you from getting very ill," said co-author Shane Crotty, a professor at LJI.