SOURCE: Effect of mRNA Vaccine Boosters against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Infection in Qatar

“Two matched retrospective cohort studies to assess the effectiveness of booster vaccination, as compared with that of a two-dose primary series alone, against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and Covid-19–related hospitalization and death during a large wave of omicron infections from December 19, 2021, through January 26, 2022. The association of booster status with infection was estimated with the use of Cox proportional-hazards regression models.” As we see, the vaccine has failed, VE is <50% (the needed threshold) and '0' deaths.

The key findings are as follows to show that the vaccines do not hit the 50% threshold for effectiveness:

Effectiveness of BNT162b2 Booster against Omicron Variant

“The estimated effectiveness of the BNT162b2 booster (Pfizer) against symptomatic omicron infection, as compared with that of the two-dose primary series, was 49.4% (95% CI, 47.1 to 51.6).”

Effectiveness of mRNA-1273 Booster against Omicron Variant

“The estimated effectiveness of the mRNA-1273 booster (Moderna), as compared with that of the two-dose primary series, was 47.3% (95% CI, 40.7 to 53.3).”

Additional Analyses

“For the BNT162b2 vaccine analysis, with the start of follow-up on the 15th day after the booster vaccination, the estimated effectiveness of the booster against symptomatic omicron infection, as compared with that of the two-dose primary series, was 49.9% (95% CI, 47.6 to 52.2) (Fig. S2 and Table S4). The corresponding estimated effectiveness of the mRNA-1273 vaccine was 52.0% (95% CI, 45.1 to 57.9). Both effectiveness estimates were similar to those in the main analysis.

The estimated effectiveness of the BNT162b2 vaccine booster against symptomatic omicron infection, as compared with that of the two-dose primary series, was 38.0% (95% CI, 28.8 to 46.0) in persons who received the booster 8 months or less after the second dose and 50.5% (95% CI, 48.2 to 52.8) in those who received it more than 8 months after the second dose. The corresponding estimates of the effectiveness of mRNA-1273 vaccine were 41.5% (95% CI, 32.3 to 49.5) and 56.8% (95% CI, 47.0 to 64.8).”

DEATHS

Pfizer

“A total of 17,745 infections were recorded in the booster cohort 8 days or more after receipt of the booster (Figure 1 and Table S3). Twelve of these infections progressed to severe Covid-19, but none progressed to critical or fatal disease.” A total of 25,266 infections were recorded in the non-booster cohort. Of these infections, 45 progressed to severe Covid-19, 4 progressed to critical Covid-19, and none progressed to fatal Covid-19.

Moderna

A total of 3720 infections were recorded in the booster cohort 8 days or more after receipt of the booster (Figure 1 and Table S3). None of these infections progressed to severe, critical, or fatal Covid-19. A total of 4590 infections were recorded in the non-booster cohort. Three of these infections progressed to severe Covid-19, but none progressed to critical or fatal Covid-19.

Limitations:

1)observational design and thus lack of control for all important confounding factors

2) those who got vaccine knew which vaccine they received

3)no control for co-morbidities

4)no indication of RT-PCT cycle count threshold to denote positivity (infectiousness); note, the PCR test does not indicate new or old infection, nor does it differentiate between common cold, influenza, COVID, or RSV virus.