Covaxin provides significant protection against Beta and Delta variants: ICMR

The study conducted by India's apex medical research institute assumes significance following the fact that SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern mainly Delta and Beta is global public health concern due to its impact on existing vaccines.

New Delhi:Amid a huge debate over the efficacy of Covaxin against Beta and Delta variants of Covid19, a latest study conducted by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has said that BBV152 vaccine found to confer significant protection against both the variants.

The study conducted by India's apex medical research institute assumes significance following the fact that SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern mainly Delta and Beta is global public health concern due to its impact on existing vaccines.

In the study, ICMR scientists assessed the neutralization of sera from Covid19 recovered cases and BBV152 vaccines against Beta and Delta variants.

"The immune escape of Beta variant has been serious concern for the Covid19 vaccination programme. It has some reduced neutralization to several approved vaccines such as mRNA-1273, BNT162b2, ChAdOx1, NVX-CoV2373. Another reason of global concern is the recent emergence and detection of highly transmissible Delta variant from India and various other countries," the study pointed out.

The neutralization potential of the BBV152 has been already studies with the B.1, Alpha, Zeta and Kappa found to be effective against these variants.

"Our study demonstrated that despite a reduction in neutralization titers with BBV152 vaccines sera against Beta and Delta variants, it's neutralization potential is well established. The broad epitope coverage in an inactivated vaccine induces immune response against whole virion which decreases the magnitude of reduced neutralization against emerging variants," the ICMR scientists said in their findings.

A similar study conducted earlier by ICMR has said that the breakthrough cases and the Covid19 recovered individuals with one or two dose of vaccine has relatively higher protection against Delta variant in comparison to the participants who were administered either one of two doses of Covishield.