<p>Covaxin offers protection from the Delta and Beta variants of SARS-CoV-2, researchers from the Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Virology-Pune and Bharat Biotech have claimed in a pre-print work.</p>.<p>B.1.617.2 aka Delta is reported as the coronavirus variant primarily responsible for the Covid-19 second wave in the country. The virus sub-lineage showing high infection transmissibility was classified as a Variant of Concern by the World Health Organization last week.</p>.<p>B.1.351 or Beta is another Variant of Concern reported in India, which is known to be showing lesser response to several approved vaccines.</p>.<p>To assess the efficacy of Covaxin, presently in public use, against B.1.351 and B.1.617.2, the ICMR-NIV and Bharat Biotech investigators have evaluated the neutralisation potential of sera collected from 20 Covid-19 recovered patients (post 5-20 weeks of infection) and 17 individuals 28 days after they received two doses of Covaxin, and compared with the prototype B.1 (D614G) variant.</p>.<p>The results of the limited sample study have appeared in bioRxiv, a preprint host, and are yet to be peer reviewed.</p>.<p>The study has demonstrated a reduction in neutralisation titers with sera of Covid-19 recovered cases (3.3-fold and 4.6-fold) and BBV152 vaccines (3. 0 and 2.7 fold) against B.1.351 and B.1.617.2 respectively.</p>.<p>“Although, there is a reduction in neutralisation titer, Covaxin demonstrates a protective response against B.1351 and B.1.617.2,” Dr Pragya Yadav of ICMR-NIV, Pune and corresponding author of the study said.</p>.<p>The indigenously developed BBV152 or Covaxin resulted from a joint collaboration between the ICMR-NIV and Bharat Biotech last year.</p>.<p>Covaxin is a whole-virion inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, which requires BSL-3 facilities. </p>
<p>Covaxin offers protection from the Delta and Beta variants of SARS-CoV-2, researchers from the Indian Council of Medical Research, National Institute of Virology-Pune and Bharat Biotech have claimed in a pre-print work.</p>.<p>B.1.617.2 aka Delta is reported as the coronavirus variant primarily responsible for the Covid-19 second wave in the country. The virus sub-lineage showing high infection transmissibility was classified as a Variant of Concern by the World Health Organization last week.</p>.<p>B.1.351 or Beta is another Variant of Concern reported in India, which is known to be showing lesser response to several approved vaccines.</p>.<p>To assess the efficacy of Covaxin, presently in public use, against B.1.351 and B.1.617.2, the ICMR-NIV and Bharat Biotech investigators have evaluated the neutralisation potential of sera collected from 20 Covid-19 recovered patients (post 5-20 weeks of infection) and 17 individuals 28 days after they received two doses of Covaxin, and compared with the prototype B.1 (D614G) variant.</p>.<p>The results of the limited sample study have appeared in bioRxiv, a preprint host, and are yet to be peer reviewed.</p>.<p>The study has demonstrated a reduction in neutralisation titers with sera of Covid-19 recovered cases (3.3-fold and 4.6-fold) and BBV152 vaccines (3. 0 and 2.7 fold) against B.1.351 and B.1.617.2 respectively.</p>.<p>“Although, there is a reduction in neutralisation titer, Covaxin demonstrates a protective response against B.1351 and B.1.617.2,” Dr Pragya Yadav of ICMR-NIV, Pune and corresponding author of the study said.</p>.<p>The indigenously developed BBV152 or Covaxin resulted from a joint collaboration between the ICMR-NIV and Bharat Biotech last year.</p>.<p>Covaxin is a whole-virion inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, which requires BSL-3 facilities. </p>