Booster shot gives up to 90% protection against Omicron --- expert
A booster or the third shot of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine provides up to 90 percent of protection against the highly transmissible Omicron variant, said Vaccine Expert Panel Chairperson Dr. Nina Gloriani on Monday, Jan. 3.

“Ang magandang balita ay ang booster, yung third dose, ay nakakapagbigay ng up to 90 percent na protection against Omicron variant. So importante po na makapag pa bakuna ang lahat (The good news is a booster or the third dose provides up to 90 percent of protection against Omicron variant. That’s why it is important for everyone to get vaccinated),” said Gloriani in a "Laging Handa" public briefing.
Meanwhile, Gloriani said the group of experts has yet to discuss in detail the possibility of giving the second booster or the fourth vaccine jab.
“Sa totoo lang ay hindi pa natin pinag-uusapan sa all-experts group ‘yung fourth dose. Pero of course, kailangan na nasa radar natin ‘yan (Actually, we haven’t tackled the fourth dose yet in the all express group, but of course, it is important that it remains in our radar) ,” she said, adding that it is too early to tell whether a booster jab every three months is necessary considering the occurrence of a phenomenon called immune system fatigue.
Gloriani likewise reiterated that aside from the protection that the COVID-19 vaccine gives, an individual also acquires protection against the severe form of COVID-19 hospitalization from a cell-mediated immunity provided by a person's T cells. (Charie Mae F. Abarca)