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Sinopharm effective on Delta: SL-Intl. study 

20 Jul 2021

  • Less effective against UK Alpha variant 
BY Pamodi Waravita Investigations conducted into the Chinese Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine by the Sri Jayewardenepura University’s Immunology and Molecular Medicine Department and the Allergy, Immunology and Cell Biology Unit together with the Oxford University in England, have revealed that the vaccine induced antibody levels in over 95% of individuals who have received both doses of the vaccine.  The research, led by the Department’s Professor in Microbiology Prof. Neelika Malavige and Unit Director Dr. Chandima Jeewandara, found that those between the ages of 20 and 39 developed antibodies at a rate of 98.9%, while those above 60 years, developed antibodies at a rate of 93.3%.  Notably, the research has found that the antibody levels after vaccination for the Indian Delta (B.1.617.2) and South African Beta (B.1.351) variants of the Covid-19 virus are similar to the levels seen following natural infection with the two said strains. However, the antibody levels were lower for the United Kingdom (UK) Alpha (B.1.1.7) strain.  The Delta variant, which was first documented in India, was named a Variant of Concern (VOC) by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in May this year. The Health Ministry announced this week that 20-30% of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test samples sent from the Colombo District in the Western Province for gene sequence testing have been found to be infected with the Delta variant of the virus. The dominant strain in Sri Lanka at present is the Alpha variant.  The vaccine has also induced neutralizing antibodies in 81.25% of the vaccine recipients.  The research team also included Oxford University researchers Prof. Graham Ogg and Prof. Alain Townsend and the research study was funded by the WHO, the UK’s Medical Research Council and Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences’ (CAMS) Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences (CIFMS).


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