Can antibodies protect against Omicron, scientists have given information, booster dose is very effective
Preliminary research has shown that the existing immune system is less effective on Omicron. The study is yet to be published and has to be formally reviewed independently by other scientists.
Staff Editor 
Cases of a new variant of the coronavirus, Omicron, are rapidly emerging all over the world. This new variant of Corona has spread to 59 countries so far. New research is also coming out about Omicron. With Omicron spreading rapidly, people want to know whether the immunity built up inside the body after a full vaccination will be enough to protect them from infection or serious illness.
Precautionary measures, including vaccination and booster doses to slow the spread of Omicron, can prevent strain on health care systems if a pre-built immunity provides adequate protection. But if this does not happen, then lockdown can be the only way to stop its spread. Meanwhile, fears are rife that the Omicron variant may replace the Delta.
Less effective on existing immune system Omicron
A preliminary study from the University of Bristol, UK, has shown that the existing immune system is less effective on Omicron. The study is yet to be published and has to be formally reviewed independently by other scientists. However, research has also suggested that giving a third booster dose may provide protection.
Omicron can protect against antibodies to some extent
The initial report of the research focused on the fastest data found. It contains the amount of antibodies in people's blood that are capable of inactivating the new variant of the virus. These research data suggest that Omicron may evade antibodies to some extent. Sometimes it is 10 to 20 times or as much as 40 times as compared to the delta variant. Thus, people who had taken two doses of the corona vaccine and had been infected in the past, had higher levels of neutralizing Omicron.
Booster dose is very effective in neutralizing Omicron
Two of the recent research also suggest that the third booster dose of the anti-coronavirus vaccine increases the level of neutralizing antibodies against the widely spread delta variant and possibly neutralizes the Omicron variant as well. One of these (a press release from vaccine manufacturer Pfizer) suggests that a booster dose may be very effective in neutralizing Omicron.
