Booster vaccines really do boost immunity to Omicron, says National Vaccine Institute

Thailand’s National Vaccine Institute has refuted a rumour spreading on Thai social media that claims booster shots of Covid-19 vaccines aren’t necessary for the Omicron variants, as infection from Thailand’s dominant virus stain effectively provides robust immunity.

In fact, those who rely on “natural immunity” from infection potentially risk severe illness or death, the institute has warned, saying adults are at risk of other complications including ‘long Covid’ while children risk multisystem inflammatory syndrome.

Their recommendation? Booster shots. The Institute emphasises that additional boosters of a Covid-19 vaccine does in fact provide “strong protection” against Omicron variants of the virus, quoting multiple long-term international studies and studies conducted in Thailand.

Currently, only about 35 percent of the Thai population has received a booster…