Covaxin booster dose neutralises Omicron and Delta variants of COVID-19: Bharat Biotech

New Delhi, Jan 12: Bharat Biotech on Wednesday said that a booster dose of Covaxin has shown to neutralise both Omicron and Delta variants of COVID-19.

"100 per cent of test serum samples showed neutralization of the Delta variant and more than 90 per cent of serum samples showed neutralisation of the Omicron variant," Bharat Biotech said.

Covaxin is the first vaccine (in India) to report safety and immunogenicity results from a booster clinical trial. The analysis showed, six months after a two-dose BBV152 vaccination series cell-mediated immunity and neutralising antibodies to both homologous (D614G) and heterologous strains (Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Delta plus) persisted above baseline, although the magnitude of the responses had declined, the company said in the statement.

The Hyderabad-based company further said that neutralising antibodies against homologous and heterologous SARS-CoV-2 variants increased 19 to 265 fold after a third vaccination. Booster BBV152 vaccination is safe and may be necessary to ensure persistent immunity to prevent breakthrough infections.