Sinopharm Booster Shot Shows High Efficiency against Omicron

A new protein-based Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine's booster shot showed high efficiency against Omicron, a new study cited by Reuters on Friday.

The three Sinopharm shots reflected a stronger antibody reaction against the latest variant more than the earlier shots.

Raising concerns over the Chinese vaccine response to Omicron, Sinopharm revealed the study to enhance the people's trust for the second-emerged COVID-19 vaccine globally.

In the same context, an earlier study showed a BBIBP-CorV booster expressed neutralization against this strain in Wuhan.

Conducted by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the study compared the response of the vaccine towards Omicron and the older variants.

Last May, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts of the World Health Organization approved the effectiveness and the safety of the Sinopharm vaccine.

This step is described as a step closer to approving the vaccine for emergency use globally. Sinopharm is the first Chinese COVID-19 vaccine to be recommended by the WHO.

The report of the group of experts assured the effectiveness of the two-dose vaccine for adults aged between 18 and 59 years old with 90%.

It added that it is also effective with 91% for people aged over 60 years old.

Moreover, the report asserted that only 74 people from 1.1 million doses suffered from side effects after the vaccination. The observed side effects were mild and they included exhaustion, headache, and fever.

The Chinese vaccine would be the fifth approved COVID-19 vaccine by the international organization.