Pfizer released a news release today this morning at 6:54am noting 3 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech covid vaccine neutralize the Omicron while two doses show significantly reduced neutralization titers.
- Preliminary laboratory studies demonstrate that three doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine neutralize the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529 lineage) while two doses show significantly reduced neutralization titers
- Data indicate that a third dose of BNT162b2 increases the neutralizing antibody titers by 25-fold compared to two doses against the Omicron variant; titers after the booster dose are comparable to titers observed after two doses against the wild-type virus which are associated with high levels of protection
- As 80% of epitopes in the spike protein recognized by CD8+ T cells are not affected by the mutations in the Omicron variant, two doses may still induce protection against severe disease
This is a good news for community and business, and stock market reacted positively to the news.
Stock futures jumped after the news release, S&P futues is shot up 45 points, DOW futures raised about 250 points, Nasdaq about 45 points in a matter of minute and is fading down. Thanksgiving reaction to Omicron variant brought the market down, especially tech sectors and send many tech stocks to bear territory.
Stocks have recovered this week from last week’s market rout on fears of the omicron Covid variant and a possible faster-than-expected taper of the Federal Reserve’s bond buying program.
This week’s gains have put the major averages back within striking distance of their record highs. The Dow is 2.3% from its record and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq are 1.2% and 3.2% from their all-time highs, respectively.