KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 1): Preliminary results of a study conducted by the Pontifical Catholic University in Chile (UC) showed that the Covid-19 Sinovac vaccine booster dose could activate cellular immunity against the Omicron variant, on subjects who were given two doses of the same vaccine previously. The objective of the study led by Millennium Institute on Immunology and Immunotherapy director Prof Dr Alexis M Kalergis is to assess whether the immunity activated by the Sinovac vaccine booster dose is able to recognise the Omicron variant. Dr Alexis, in a statement released by Pharmaniaga on Saturday, said those who have received the Covid-19 Sinovac vaccine booster dose had T cell levels that are activated against the Omicron variant in a similar way to the original strain. “Population data shows that the Covid-19 Sinovac vaccine has worked well so far to control the variants that have emerged,” she said. The Sinovac Covid-19 booster shot has recently been approved by the Drug Control Authority and is currently available in selected private healthcare facilities.

Source: The Edge Markets January 02, 2022 04:16 UTC