JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – Two doses Pfizer BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine have provided 70% protection from hospitalization in South Africa over the past week, according to a significant real-world study. This comes as South Africa battles an increase in the number of infections caused by the new Omicron variant.

Discovery (NASDAQ Health) Health released a study based on over 211,000 COVID-19 positive test results, around 78,000 of them attributed to Omicron.

These 78,000 Omicron cases aren’t confirmed Omicron, so the study cannot draw any conclusions about this variant “of concern”, as deemed by the World Health Organization.

South African scientists have confirmed approximately 550 Omicron sequences. The variant accounts for 78% (more than the Delta dominant variant) of November sequences.

South Africa alerted Omicron about its presence late last month. It raised alarm over the possibility of another rise in global infectious diseases and resulted in travel restrictions for southern Africa. Since then, South Africa has seen an increase in daily infections to approximately 20,000 per day.

The real-world analysis was based on the findings of Discovery’s clinical research teams and actuarial team, as well as collaboration with South Africa’s Medical Research Council (SAMRC). It found that two doses Pfizer BioNTech provided 70% protection from hospitalization during the surge in case numbers and 33% against infection.

South Africa is using the Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:) vaccines in its COVID-19 immunisation campaign, with more than 20 million Pfizer (NYSE:) doses administered so far.

It was concluded that the Fourth Wave had a greater risk of reinfection than previous waves, and that hospitalizations among COVID-19-positive adults was 29% less than the First Wave.

It found that there was a 20% increase in hospital admissions with complications for children during the fourth wave compared to the first. This was despite the fact that the absolute incidence is very low.

Discovery warned that preliminary findings from the study should not be taken as final.

Glenda Grey, president of SAMRC, stated that it was vital to see the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine offer good protection against severe illness and hospitalisation.