China claims Sinovac booster 94% potent against Omicron after 2 shots prove ineffective

Chinese biotech company Sivac on Thursday claimed that its third dose of COVID-19 vaccine offers 94% efficacy against new COVID variant Omicron. research, self-conducted by Sivac, displayed that vaccine had doubled neutralising antibody positive rate against Omicron, Global Times reported. study comes after University of Hong Kong found that two doses of Sivac vaccine failed to generate desired antibody response against fast-spreading variant.

According to a statement obtained by Nikkei Asia, Sivac conducted study on 20 people who received two shots and ar 48 who were administered three shots. As many as 7 in first group and 45 in second showed neutralising antibodies against Omicron in ir system. Earlier, a research team led by Yuen Kwok-yung from University of Hong Kong published a paper, concluding that Sivac's vaccine effectiveness, along with Pfizer and BioNTech, drops against Omicron.

94% tested positive for antibodies

Clearing doubts over its studies, Chinese Sivac said that its own laboratory showed at least seven out of 20 in first lot received two CoronaVac jabs displayed neutralising antibodies. rate translates to about 35%. Additionally, 45 among 48 or recipients of three doses also tested positive for neutralising antibodies against Omicron variant, Nikkei Asia reported. study was based on two Omicron strain samples obtained from Hong Kong. company also told Chinese media that it is conducting furr studies, including testing serum samples with different antibody levels to comprehensively evaluate CoronaVac efficacy against new strain.  

"se results suggest that third dose of Sivac's vaccine was effective in improving serum neutralization against omicron virus strain," Nikkei Asia reported, quoting company's statement.

It is pertinent to mention that CoronaVac is one of two China-based vaccinations against COVID-19 approved by World Health Organisation (WHO). company has so far supplied 808 million doses to 44 countries, as per figures by Beijing-based Bridge Consulting. Sivac's claims also come after WHO on Wednesday raised concerns over vaccine efficacy against Omicron and informed that preliminary evidence suggested existing vaccines might be less effective against new 'Variant of Concern'. apex health care body also added that it requires more data to determine risk of natural or artificial immune evasiveness capacity of Omicron.

Omicron cases around world

As per WHO, infections related to Omicron variant have been reported from 77 countries after it was first reported from South Africa's Gauteng province in early vember. Britain, on Monday, recorded it's first death from new COVID-19 strain. China also reported two cases on Tuesday. India too reported 10 new cases of Omicron on Friday, taking total tally to 83.

(Im: AP)