SOURCE: Reuters
A new study by researchers from the University of Oxford has found that two-dose COVID-19 vaccine regimens do not induce enough neutralising antibodies against the Omicron coronavirus variant. According to the study, this may an indication that increased infections in those previously infected or vaccinated may be likely.
An article from Reuters news agency reports on the study which is yet to be peer-reviewed.
The Reuters article notes that the Oxford research team analysed blood samples from participants who were given doses from AstraZeneca-Oxford (AZN.L) or Pfizer-BioNTech (PFE.N), (22UAy.DE) in a large study looking into mixing of vaccines.
The Oxford study revealed there was no evidence yet that the lower level of infection-fighting antibodies against Omicron could lead to higher risk of severe disease, hospitalisation or death in those who have got two doses of approved vaccines.
"These data are important but are only one part of the picture. They only look at neutralising antibodies after the second dose, but do not tell us about cellular immunity, and this will also be tested," said Matthew Snape, Oxford professor and co-author of the paper, in the Reuters story.
The results were released on Monday, one day after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned that two shots will not be enough to contain Omicron, following findings from the UK health agency last week that boosters significantly restore protection against the variant.
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Original story published by REUTERS – Reporting by Pushkala Aripaka in Bengaluru; Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Shailesh Kuber
