<p>A team of UK researchers has analysed the likely impact that a Covid booster shot will have on Omicron and says it could provide around 85 per cent protection against severe illness.</p>.<p>According to the BBC, the protection is a bit less than vaccines given against earlier versions of Covid. But it means the top-up dose should still keep many people out of the hospital.</p>.<p>The modelling, from the team at Imperial College London, is based on limited information on Omicron.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/covishield-may-not-be-an-effective-booster-virologist-shahid-jameel-1062466.html" target="_blank">Covishield may not be an effective booster: Virologist Shahid Jameel</a></strong></p>.<p>The researchers said there is a high degree of uncertainty until more real-world information is gathered about this new variant that is spreading quickly.</p>.<p>Experts are still trying to figure out how mild or severe Omicron will turn out to be, the report said.</p>.<p>Vaccines help teach the body how to fight Covid. But the current ones in use were not designed to combat the heavily-mutated Omicron variant, meaning they are not a perfect match.</p>.<p>To get around that, people in the UK are being advised to have a booster dose to build up higher antibody levels to fight the virus.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>
<p>A team of UK researchers has analysed the likely impact that a Covid booster shot will have on Omicron and says it could provide around 85 per cent protection against severe illness.</p>.<p>According to the BBC, the protection is a bit less than vaccines given against earlier versions of Covid. But it means the top-up dose should still keep many people out of the hospital.</p>.<p>The modelling, from the team at Imperial College London, is based on limited information on Omicron.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/covishield-may-not-be-an-effective-booster-virologist-shahid-jameel-1062466.html" target="_blank">Covishield may not be an effective booster: Virologist Shahid Jameel</a></strong></p>.<p>The researchers said there is a high degree of uncertainty until more real-world information is gathered about this new variant that is spreading quickly.</p>.<p>Experts are still trying to figure out how mild or severe Omicron will turn out to be, the report said.</p>.<p>Vaccines help teach the body how to fight Covid. But the current ones in use were not designed to combat the heavily-mutated Omicron variant, meaning they are not a perfect match.</p>.<p>To get around that, people in the UK are being advised to have a booster dose to build up higher antibody levels to fight the virus.</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>