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Sinopharm’s antibody response declines in study 

20 Oct 2021

 
  • J’pura University study recommends booster dose 
  • Points out over-60s most affected 
  BY Pamodi Waravita  A local research study has revealed that the antibody responses of people across all age groups, who are fully vaccinated (two doses) with the Chinese-made Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine, have reduced, 12 weeks after the second dose had been administered.  “Our study showed that the antibody responses in people of all ages have declined, especially for those over the age of 60 years. We do recommend a booster shot due to this. However, which Covid-19 vaccine should be administered as a booster shot depends on the availability of the vaccines,” Sri Jayewardenepura University (USJ) Allergy, Immunology, and Cell Biology Unit Director Dr. Chandima Jeewandara told The Morning yesterday (19). The study had been conducted by a number of scientists, including Dr. Jeewandara and Sri Jayewardenepura University Medical Faculty Immunology and Molecular Medicine Department Professor in Microbiology Neelika Malavige. In late August, Prof. Malavige shared with a Sri Lankan audience a study from Bahrain suggesting the Sinopharm vaccine may be less effective than three other Covid-19 vaccines: Pfizer-BioNTech, Covishield/Oxford-AstraZeneca, and Sputnik V.  Prof. Malavige had shared the study on her official Twitter handle and subsequently stated: “Sinopharm appears to be less effective than Pfizer in older individuals, based on data from the study from Bahrain.” However, when contacted by The Morning for elaboration at the time, Prof. Malavige said that it was important to note that the study was conducted in Bahrain, not in Sri Lanka, while noting that inoculation with any of the vaccines is still an effective method of preventing deaths.  “All vaccines are effective in preventing deaths. That’s why you should take your vaccine today if you haven’t done so already,” she said. Health Ministry Communications Director, Public Health Services Deputy Director General, and Disaster Preparedness and Response Division Head Dr. Hemantha Herath said this month that the Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases to the Health Ministry has recommended a booster shot and that the guidelines in this regard will be issued soon. The Presidential Secretariat’s Vaccination Dashboard noted that 99% of the population over the age of 20 years has been partially vaccinated (one dose) with a Covid-19 vaccine while 86% of the same are fully vaccinated (two doses) as of yesterday.


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