A recent study from researchers at the University of Saskatchewan shows that Moderna or Pfizer Vaccinations are much more effective in protecting you against the Omicron variant than antibodies from infection by the original SARS-CoV-2 or the Delta variant.

Virologist, Dr. Arinjay Banerjee, said in an interview with DiscoverEstevan.com's Scott Boulton that they obtained a specimen from an Omicron-positive patient, and derived the virus from the patient for testing on how Canadians would be able to neutralize the virus.

"We were especially interested in looking at what sort of antibodies people have... especially if you've been infected with Sars2 during the original wave of COVID-19," said Banerjee. "We also looked at Canadians who were infected by the Delta variant. And we looked at samples from individuals who were vaccinated - were vaccinated following an infection, or who were vaccinated with three doses of the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccine."

Banerjee said their findings were consistent with what the scientific community around the world has discovered. "if you've had COVID-19, and if you haven't gotten vaccinated, you need those vaccines. If you're waiting and you believe that you're protected because you've been previously infected, our data clearly shows that your antibody levels are very low for Omicron." The research was done on Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and has yet to be peer-reviewed.

"Our data completely and very strongly recommends that you go and get those shots. In fact, we do have data showing if you have been infected, and you get two doses of the Pfizer vaccine or two doses of the Moderna vaccines, that you would have much higher levels of antibodies against Omicron. Having said that, we didn't have the time to test the other vaccines that are currently approved for COVID-19. We were only able to test samples that were already accessible to us."

Banerjee said they also looked at samples from long-term care residents, who are most susceptible to severe COVID-19, and found that residents with two doses and a booster shot have neutralizing antibodies against Omicron.

"That data would perhaps extend to young adults and older adults, and our data suggests you might want to go get those third booster shots for optimal neutralizing antibodies against Omicron."

The study was released prior to being peer-reviewed because of the urgency of the public health crisis, but is now under review by scientists not in conflict with Banerjee and his team.