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Covid-19 vaccines become less effective against the Delta variant three months after full vaccination, according to new research by the University of Oxford.
The results of the large UK study looked at how the Pfizer-BioNTech and AstraZeneca vaccines protect patients against Covid-19.
Probably you get some protection against more severe disease for a few years. The whole point of the vaccines is to stop people from getting ill and dying
Prof Paul Hunter,
University of East Anglia
Researchers found that 90 days after the second shot the vaccines' efficacy in preventing infections slipped to 75 per cent and 61 per cent respectively.
That was down from 85 per cent and 68 per cent respectively, seen two weeks after a second dose.
The decline in efficacy was more pronounced among those aged 35 years and over, than among younger case studies.
Scientists also found that when vaccinated people were infected with Delta, they had similar levels of virus in their bodies as those who had not had the injections.
This could imply that those who are vaccinated could still spread the virus. It also raises questions over whether herd immunity can be achieved even in countries of mostly vaccinated people.
Findings ‘not surprising’
Prof Paul Hunter, a professor in medicine and infectious diseases specialist at the University of East Anglia in the UK, said the results of the latest study were "not surprising".
He that while the vaccines' effectiveness at preventing mild infections starts to fall away in a matter of months, the shots continued to prevent severe disease for far longer.
Immunity against mild disease, from vaccination or previous infection, was, he said, "short-lived". But the immunity to the more severe viral pneumonia from Covid-19 that can result in hospital admission and death "lasts a lot longer".
"Probably you get some protection against more severe disease for a few years, so what this means is that the vaccines are not going to stop the spread of the virus. Most of us who work in the area have known this for at least six months," he said.
"Herd immunity is not and never was going to be achievable. The whole point of the vaccines is to stop people from getting ill and dying."
While the new study indicates a reduction in vaccine efficacy over time, Prof David Taylor, professor emeritus of pharmaceutical and public health policy at University College London, said the vaccines were performing "relatively well".
"The real [challenge] for the world is getting production up to the level so we can supply poor world [countries], which isn't happening at the moment," he said.
He said, however, that scientists and governments would look for enhanced vaccines that were more effective against the Delta variant and other variants, and that such "tweaked" shots could be used widely as boosters.
The UK survey, run by the University of Oxford and the Office for National Statistics, analysed more than three million PCR tests from a random sample of people.
The results are likely to encourage more countries to offer booster shots for fully vaccinated people. The policy is already in place in the UAE.
Health officials in the Emirates recommend that people have booster shots six months after their second vaccine dose, unless they are considered vulnerable, in which case they should have it after three months.
This week, US President Joe Biden announced that Americans who have had both doses of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna will be allowed a booster after eight months.
Israel this month started giving third doses of Pfizer-BioNTech to the elderly. Initial results show they have been 86 per cent effective for people aged 60 and over.
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
Results
Stage 7:
1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29
2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time
3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious
4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM
General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35
3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02
4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Fixtures
Tuesday - 5.15pm: Team Lebanon v Alger Corsaires; 8.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Pharaohs
Wednesday - 5.15pm: Pharaohs v Carthage Eagles; 8.30pm: Alger Corsaires v Abu Dhabi Storms
Thursday - 4.30pm: Team Lebanon v Pharaohs; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Carthage Eagles
Friday - 4.30pm: Pharaohs v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Team Lebanon
Saturday - 4.30pm: Carthage Eagles v Alger Corsaires; 7.30pm: Abu Dhabi Storms v Team Lebanon
A list of the animal rescue organisations in the UAE
Match info
Uefa Champions League Group H
Juventus v Valencia, Tuesday, midnight (UAE)
The%20specs
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Scores
Day 2
New Zealand 153 & 56-1
Pakistan 227
New Zealand trail by 18 runs with nine wickets remaining
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
UAE central contracts
Full time contracts
Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid
Part time contracts
Aryan Lakra, Ansh Tandon, Karthik Meiyappan, Rahul Bhatia, Alishan Sharafu, CP Rizwaan, Basil Hameed, Matiullah, Fahad Nawaz, Sanchit Sharma
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
Venom
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed
Rating: 1.5/5
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Price: from Dh122,745
On sale: now
Company%20profile%20
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