Vaccine is ineffective against more recent coronavirus omicron sub-variants: Study

The more recent Omicron sub-variants of SARS-CoV-2 considerably elude neutralising antibodies produced by both vaccination and past infection, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. In populations with high vaccination rates and histories of infection, the study, according to the researchers, provides the immunologic context for current epidemics.

Researchers from Israel’s Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) looked at 27 individuals who had had immunizations and booster shots as well as 27 individuals who had previously contracted COVID-19 to see how their immune systems responded to distinct SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-variants.

Since the first, highly contagious SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variation of COVID-19, known as BA.1, appeared in 2021, other sub-variants have continued to develop.

It has been discovered that the three Omicron subvariants BA.2.12.1, BA.4, and BA.5 significantly evade neutralising antibodies produced by both vaccination and prior infection. Neutralizing antibody responses to BA.4 and BA.5 were approximately 20 times less potent than those to the original WA1/2020 strain and were three times less potent than those to the Omicron BA.1 and BA.2 variants.

According to research lead author Dan H. Barouch, head of the Center for Vaccine and Virology Research at BIDMC, “Our findings suggest that the Omicron variants have continued to evolve.”

“This has important public health implications and provides the immunologic context for current surges among populations with high rates of vaccinations and previous infection,” Barouch said.

According to the researchers, newly generated variants may be more contagious and may more successfully subvert immune defences induced by prior illnesses or immunizations.

The upcoming COVID-19 booster doses are reportedly going to be modified for omicron in the meanwhile.

Although some experts feel they may only offer considerable benefits for older and sick patients, the COVID-19 vaccines this fall are likely to be based on the omicron version of the coronavirus rather than the original strain.

India’s health ministry reported on Friday that on June 24 there were 17,336 new coronavirus infections per day, the biggest daily increase since February 20.

According to state officials, Maharashtra had more than 5,200 new infections on Wednesday, 2,479 of which originated in Mumbai, the nation’s financial centre.

The number of illnesses reported on Friday increased by more than 4,000 from the amount reported on Thursday, which was 13,313. Daily infections in India have been increasing over the previous month.

According to the ministry, there have already been 524,954 fatalities as a result of COVID-19, an increase of 13.