The immune evasiveness of SARS-CoV-2 omicron (B.1.1.529) subvariants resulted in large, global waves of infection and raised concerns about vaccine effectiveness against COVID-19-related hospitalisation and death. In The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Sara Y Tartof and colleagues1 assessed the effectiveness and duration of protection offered by two doses and three doses of BNT162b2 (Pfizer–BioNTech) against hospital and emergency department admission following infection with the omicron BA.1 or BA.2 subvariants.