The study found that the Pfizer vaccine produces 10 times more antibodies than the Sinovac vaccine

Serum |
Vials containing the Sinovac vaccine. Getty Images

A study in Hong Kong showed that people who received the Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech had ten times the amount of antibodies compared to people who received the Sinovac vaccine developed in China.

Highlights

• according to a study Published in The Lancet, the difference in neutralizing antibody concentration “could lead to substantial differences in vaccine efficacy.”
• The study was based on samples collected from 1,442 health care workers working in medical clinics and public and private hospitals in Hong Kong.
• People who received the Sinovac vaccine had levels of antibodies “similar to or lower” to those of patients with Covid-19 who had successfully fought off the disease, AFP reports.
• The study only looked at neutralizing antibody concentrations – which are not the only measure of a vaccine’s effectiveness – and did not include data on T cells and other potential protective markers.

basic quote

One of the report’s authors, epidemiologist Ben Cowling, told AFP that people should still get the Sinovac vaccine if it was their only option, as it still offers some protection, adding: “Don’t let perfection be the enemy of good.”

the shadow

The Hong Kong study and other research conducted around the world suggest that vaccines that use mRNA technology – such as Pfizer and Moderna – may provide stronger protection against the coronavirus and its variants, compared to traditional injections into inactivated viruses. It pollinates most parts of the world because it is cheaper and easier to produce and store.

A large number

28%. This is the percentage of Hong Kong residents who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 so far, according to the government’s official tracking system. More than 40% of the population has received at least one dose to date.

main context

As Beijing embarks on a crackdown on dissent in Hong Kong, Covid-19 vaccines have emerged as a political hotspot. At the start of the vaccination campaign, city leaders publicly opted, with Beijing’s support, to receive the Sinovac vaccine. On the other hand, Hong Kong citizens were less confident in the vaccine developed by China. According to a survey published in January, 56% of people were ready to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, while only 29.5% were ready to receive the Sinovac vaccine. AFP adds that despite adequate supply, only 1.8 million Sinovac vaccines have been administered in the city so far, compared to 2.6 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. In March, city officials excluded a private clinic from the city’s vaccination distribution program after it recommended the Pfizer vaccine instead of Sinovac to patients.

Article translated from the American magazine Forbes – Author: Siladitya Ray

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