Hong Kong: Two Chinese COVID-19 vaccine candidates, specifically developed to target the Omicron variant of coronavirus, have been approved for clinical trials as boosters in Hong Kong, Reuters reported.
The vaccines have been developed by units of China National Biotec Group (CNBG), according to Sinopharm subsidiary.
Both vaccine candidates contain inactivated or ‘killed’ Omicron virus and are similar to the two Sinopharm vaccines being used in China. They will be tested in adults who have already received two or three vaccine doses, CNBG said in a statement.
A study in China showed that a fourth dose of Sinopharm’s vaccine BBIBP-CorV did not significantly raise antibody levels against Omicron when administered six months after a third booster dose.
Scientists around the world are studying upgraded injections against Omicron, as vaccines based on earlier strains have not been very effective in neutralizing the highly transmissible variant.
