Research shows that the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine produces 10 times more antibodies than Sinovac
A Research, published at The Lancet on Thursday found that antibody levels among Hong Kong healthcare workers who were fully vaccinated with BioNTech SE’s mRNA injection are about 10 times higher than those seen in vaccine recipients inactivated from Sinovac Biotech Ltd.
Although disease-fighting antibodies are not responsible for the whole picture when it comes to measuring the immunity-generating ability and efficacy of Covid vaccines, “the difference in the concentrations of neutralizing antibodies identified in our study may translate into differences substantial in the effectiveness of the vaccine,” the researchers said.
The finding adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting the superiority of mRNA vaccines in providing potent and comprehensive protection against Sars-CoV-2 and its variants, compared to vaccines developed by more traditional methods such as inactivations.
Countries from Israel to the US that relied primarily on mRNA vaccines from Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech, as well as Moderna Inc., saw a marked reduction in infections. Those using mostly inactivated injections of Sinovac and Sinopharm from China have not experienced as much impact on the number of cases, although the use of both types has significantly avoided Covid and more serious fatalities.
The lower effectiveness of inactivated vaccines has led countries from Thailand to the United Arab Emirates to offer people who have already been vaccinated another booster dose, as the more infectious delta variant fuels the resurgence of infections.
The Hong Kong study also suggested that future research could examine how booster doses might increase antibody levels and protection among people vaccinated with the inactivated doses.
