Pfizer posts COVID vaccine data for Omicron variant, judge blocks contractor mandate

A day after a federal judge blocked President Joe Biden’s federal contractor COVID-19 vaccine mandate, Pfizer released data regarding the effectiveness of the company’s vaccine on fighting the Omicron variant. According to a news release from Pfizer, the data showed that while three doses of the vaccine, “neutralize the Omicron variant”, people who only got two doses saw “on average, more than a 25-fold reduction in neutralization.” This finding indicates that only getting the initial doses of the Pfizer vaccine “may not be sufficient to protect against infection with the Omicron variant.”

“Although two doses of the vaccine may still offer protection against severe disease caused by the Omicron strain, it’s clear from these preliminary data that protection is improved with a third dose of our vaccine,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in the release. “Ensuring as many people as possible are fully vaccinated with the first two dose series and a booster remains the best course of action to prevent the spread of COVID-19.”

While Pfizer officials push getting their booster to protect against the Omicron variant, a district court judge in Georgia issued a stay to bar enforcement of President Biden’s federal contractor vaccine mandate. Judge R. Stan Baker found it’s likely that Biden exceeded authorization from Congress when he issued the requirement.

The Court acknowledges the tragic toll that the COVID-19 pandemic has wrought throughout the nation and the globe, Baker wrote in his order. “However, even in times of crisis this Court must preserve the rule of law and ensure that all branches of government act within the bounds of their constitutionally granted authorities.”

The order came in response to a lawsuit from several contractors and seven states — Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, South Carolina, Utah and West Virginia. It represents the latest in a string of victories for Republican-led states pushing back against Biden’s pandemic policies. At her daily briefing Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the Justice Department would continue to defend the mandate.

“The reason that we proposed these requirements is that we know they work, and we are confident in our ability, legally, to make these happen across the country,” Psaki said. “Our implementation sends a clear message to businesses, including federal contractors, that similar measures will protect their workforce, protect their customers, and protect our communities.”