Sinovac booster can activate cellular immunity against Omicron

[superadmin]

KUALA LUMPUR – 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, was to assess whether the immunity activated by the Sinovac vaccine booster dose can recognise the Omicron variant.

Dr Alexis, in a statement released by Pharmaniaga today, 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.

“This shows that the vaccine contains antigens that are found in the Omicron variant. The results show that when T lymphocytes come in contact with the Omicron variant, they are able to produce gamma interferon, which is capable of killing the dangerous virus,” he said.

Meanwhile, UC’s Academic and Scientific director for the CoronaVac Scientific-Clinical Study in Chile, Dr Susan Bueno said, it was most likely that partial recognition of these variants had contributed to the effectiveness of the vaccine among the population, despite the variants being widespread in Chile.

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