Third COVID-19 vaccine dose could give people two to three years' protection - Luke O'Neill

Booster vaccines could give people two to three years’ protection from COVID-19, according to Professor Luke O’Neill.

He says third shots are leading to a "huge" immune response and give people very strong protection against serious illness.

Ireland’s booster campaign has been getting underway, with healthcare workers, over-60s and vulnerable groups set to get a third dose of a vaccine over the coming weeks and months.

Other countries such as Israel have already started population-wide booster campaigns.

Professor O’Neill -Professor of Biochemistry at Trinity College - told The Pat Kenny Show we’re now getting lots of data about how well the extra doses are working.

He said: “This is a huge study from Israel - 1.15 million people. A huge number of people were followed after the booster shot.

“There was huge protection after the third shot - 93% protection against severe disease, and 92% against hospitalisation.

“The unboosted ones, who they had as a kind of control group… they had a higher risk of hospitalisation.

“What’s happening is the booster is restoring protection back to what it is.”

Professor O’Neill said the immune response is so strong it could give people two to three years’ protection.

He also believes three shots will become the norm for anyone receiving a COVID-19 vaccine for the first time.

He observed: “After Christmas, I predict, anybody getting a vaccine from the start will be given three shots - this will become a three-shot vaccine, and that will constitute full vaccination.

“It’s working so well… you’d be foolish not to give the third shot, given it’s causing a huge response.”