A protein-based COVID-19 vaccine made by Sinopharm, when given as a booster after two doses of an earlier shot from the Chinese firm, elicited a stronger antibody response against the Omicron variant than a third dose of the original, a study showed.
The study, which was published on Tuesday and had not been peer reviewed, came amid concerns over the effectiveness of Sinopharm’s BBIBP-CorV shot, one of the two leading COVID-19 vaccines exported by China, against the Omicron variant.
An earlier study showed a BBIBP-CorV booster had weaker neutralization against Omicron than against the original coronavirus strain.
Sinopharm’s NVSI-06-07 protein-based vaccine, approved for emergency use as a booster in the United Arab Emirates in December last year, adopts a different technology than the BBIBP-CorV shot that contains an inactivated form of the coronavirus.
Among 192 healthy adults vaccinated with two BBIBP-CorV doses for six months or longer, the neutralizing antibody level against Omicron in those later given a NVSI-06-07 booster was “significantly higher” than that in those who received a BBIBP-CorV third dose, researchers said in a paper.
Read more: UAE approves new Sinopharm vaccine as booster
The antibody-based results are different from the efficacy readings about how well the NVSI-06-07 booster after BBIBP-CorV vaccination would protect people from Omicron-caused disease.
The authors of the paper, including researchers from Sinopharm’s units and Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi, cautioned that it remained unclear for how long the NVSI-06-07 booster’s effect would last.
Vaccine is a biological preparation which protects an individual and its community with immunity against a specific infection. It contains substances that resembles a disease-causing microorganism often made from attenuated or inactive forms of the pathogen, its toxins or surface proteins.
Influenza or more commonly known as flu is a contagious respiratory infection caused by the influenza viruses. It is typically spread through small airborne droplets when an individual sneezes, coughs or talks.
Pasaca Capital, Inc. with its portfolio company Innova Medical Group Establish Joint Venture with Sinopharm Group to Improve Access to COVID-19 Vaccines Dr. Robert Redfield, Chief Scientific Advisor to Pasaca and Former US CDC Commissioner and Dr. Yichen Lu will lead the vaccine effort for Pasaca and Innova Sinopharm’s China