Moroccan Study Finds COVID Vaccine Effectiveness Wanes Over Time, Boosters Needed

Several elements regarding the pandemic (vaccination, infection, gender and symptoms) were taken into account by the study conducted by this scientific team. "We observed that 64.5% of infected people contracted the disease three months after the second dose. The overall average of post-vaccination infection was 108 days," explains Prof. Heikel, who led this study conducted on 543 Casablancans. Also, "14% of this sample had contracted the disease 6 months after receiving the last dose of the Covid-19 vaccine," reports SNRTnews.

This study, according to the specialist, reveals the need to strengthen the immune system with a third dose. "For our study, we had samples of less than a month, 1 to 3 months and 3 to 6 months and more than 6 months. We found that over time the probability of getting infected increases, particularly after the 3rd month." An important dose, especially with the emergence of the Omicron variant, which has caused an explosion of infection cases. "The probability of getting infected when in contact with Omicron is 70%. The protection against Omicron and against transmission is only 30% when in contact with the virus," explains the epidemiologist.

The study also showed that gender and obesity have no influence on the immune response. "We found that there is no difference between men and women or between obese patients and those who do not have weight problems." However, the study specifies that people with a complete vaccination schedule are more protected from the disease, especially its severe form, than unvaccinated people.

But not everything is negative in the preliminary results of this study, which explains that 98.5% of fully vaccinated people have mild forms of Covid-19. It recalls that vaccination "significantly reduces the transmission of the virus, without however being able to eliminate it." That is why Prof. Heikel calls for further studies to inform and raise awareness among citizens about the importance of vaccination and the need for a complete vaccination schedule.