Thread by @Ayjchan

Sometimes wish journalist reports would provide citations for statements made. Example:

"A new British report shows that booster doses are less effective against Omicron than previous variants, and their effectiveness wears off faster — within 10 weeks."

nytimes.com/2021/12/23/wor…

The claim comes from this technical briefing which doesn't sound that terrifying. Just a 15-25% reduction in vaccine effectiveness after 10 weeks. Yes, it's faster for Omicron than for Delta. But it's not like the boosters don't work after 10 weeks.
assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/upl…

Bit further down in the doc (page 25), it says:

Pfizer 2 shots + Pfizer booster = ~70% vaccine effectiveness against symptoms; dropping to 45% after 10+ weeks

Pfizer 2 shots + Moderna booster = ~70-75% vaccine effectiveness even up to 9 weeks later

Same document says "It will be a few weeks before effectiveness against severe disease with Omicron can be estimated" but assumes vaccines will still be protective against Omicron since there was "no diminution of protection" against hospitalizations involving Delta vs Alpha.

Would've been helpful if the data (symptom types, no. of days w symptoms) were provided so we can see if being vaccinated reduces the severity of non-hospitalization-level symptoms.

Might not be bad if people still develop symptoms so they don't go out and spread it to others.