Ireland's vaccine rollout programme could get a massive boost in the immediate future as Pfizer have said a third dose of their Covid-19 vaccine could "neutralise" the Omicron variant.
In a statement from BioNTech and Pfizer, the manufacturers said that two vaccine doses resulted in "significantly lower neutralising antibodies" - but that a third dose of their vaccine increased the neutralising antibodies by a factor of 25.
"Ensuring as many people as possible are fully vaccinated with the first two-dose series and a booster remains the best course of action to prevent the spread of Covid-19," Pfizer boss Albert Bourla said in a statement.
"Although two doses of the vaccine may still offer protection against severe disease caused by the Omicron strain, it's clear from these preliminary data that protection is improved with a third dose of our vaccine," he added.
If needed, they can deliver a vaccine specifically for Omicron as early as March 2022, the companies claim.
BioNTech boss Ugur Sahin added that the latest data indicates that a third dose "could still offer a sufficient level of protection from disease of any severity caused by the Omicron variant".
He added: "Broad vaccination and booster campaigns around the world could help us to better protect people everywhere and to get through the winter season."
The Omicron variant has reached over 20 countries so far since being discovered in South Africa last month.
Both Ireland and the UK are on that list of nations, with the World Health Organisation designating the strain as a "variant of concern".
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