• Thursday, March 28, 2024

HEADLINE STORY

AstraZeneca tests booster jab against Covid variant

Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson (R) speaks with Dipesh Sonar (C) and Nisha Gill as he visits the quality control laboratory at Oxford BioMedica where batches of the Oxford/Astrazeneca Covid-19 vaccine are tested as part of the manufacturing process in Oxford on January 18, 2021. (Photo by Heathcliff O’Malley / POOL / AFP)

By: Sarwar Alam

AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford on Sunday (27) began new trials to test a modified vaccine against the Beta variant, which first emerged in South Africa.

The ‘booster’ vaccine’s trial will involve around 2,250 participants from Britain, South Africa, Brazil and Poland.

They include people who have been fully vaccinated with two doses of the original Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine or an mRNA vaccine such as Pfizer as well as those who have not got the jab at all.

The new vaccine, known as AZD2816, has been designed using the same base as the main AstraZeneca shot but with minor genetic alterations to the spike protein based on the Beta variant.

“Testing booster doses of existing vaccines and new variant vaccines is important to ensure we are best prepared to stay ahead of the pandemic coronavirus, should their use be needed,” said Andrew Pollard, chief investigator and director of the Oxford Vaccine Group at the University of Oxford.

Britain has had a successful vaccine roll out programme, but experts do not know how long protection lasts.

“This study will provide vital evidence on whether further doses including ‘tweaks’ against new virus variants may be needed in the future,” said Maheshi Ramasamy, Principal Investigator at the Oxford Vaccine Group.

Initial data from the trial is expected later this year.

Current vaccines are believed to be less effective against the Beta variant, although it is the Delta variant, which emerged in India, that is currently causing most concern.

Although the main vaccines are believed to be highly effective at preventing serious illness, the Delta variant’s transmissible nature is leading to a spike in cases in some countries, including Britain.

Related Stories

Videos

Mrunal Thakur on Dhamaka, experience of working with Kartik Aaryan,…
Nushrratt Bharuccha on Chhorii, pressure of comparison with Lapachhapi, upcoming…
Abhimanyu Dassani on Meenakshi Sundareshwar, how his mom Bhagyashree reacted…