Early data from studies conducted by Sinovac Biotech shows that Sinovac vaccine booster shots are 94% effective against the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron.
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“Sinovac has obtained two strains of the Omicron variant from Hong Kong. Latest lab results showed that, when tested against one of the Omicron strains, 35% of the twenty serum samples (7/20) from recipients of two CoronaVac doses tested positive of the neutralising antibody, and 94% of the 48 samples (45/48) from recipients of three doses tested positive of the neutralising antibody.
"These results suggest that a third dose of Sinovac's vaccine was effective in improving the serum neutralisation against the Omicron virus strain. Comparative testing using the other strain of Omicron virus is underway.
"Sinovac is conducting further studies that involve sera with different antibody levels and at a wider variety of post-immunisation points of time in order to achieve a comprehensive evaluation of Omicron's impact on the vaccineâ€.
This supports the statement made by Senior Director of Oversea Business, Sinovac Biotech Co Ltd from China, Weining Meng who said a booster shot given at an interval of six to 12 months after the second dose led to a strong boost in immune response, with geometric mean titers (GMTs) increasing to approximately 140.
During a virtual webinar organised by Pharmaniaga Berhad in October, Meng said the timing of a booster dose should take into account based on existing COVID-19 infection in the country and breakthrough COVID-19 cases after primary vaccination.
“The GMT of 6 months after third dose is higher than the peak of the second dose. In addition, the studies also showed higher persistence of antibody 6 months of the booster dose compared to the second dose, indicating a longer duration of protection from COVID-19 protection and new variants,†said Meng.
According to research conducted at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Peking University, and Sinovac Biotech, their data also indicated a third dose of the same vaccine for Sinovac recipients, would allow vaccine protection to last longer and better persistence.
All these scientific studies are in line with the statement made by the Minister of Health YB Khairy Jamaluddin asking all adult Sinovac recipients and those above 60 regardless of their types of vaccines, to take booster shots by end of February 2022.
China has administered booster shots most of its adult population, and since October 2021 it has began vaccinating children aged 3-112. Despite the population of more than 1.4 billion, it registered only 546 new cases and zero death for the past one week. ■