The Chinese laboratory Sinovac Biotech’s vaccine against COVID-19 was 38.2% effective in preventing infections during the omicron wave in children between three and five years of age, a study conducted in Chile showed.
The study, published Tuesday, has not yet undergone the peer review process.
The findings contrast with previous studies that showed the CoronaVac vaccine was 74.5% effective in preventing infections in children aged 6 to 16 years, when delta was the dominant variant.
Sinovac’s research in Chile is led by scientists from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Countries are increasingly recommending booster doses against the omicron variant, which according to the World Health Organization (WHO) can bypass part of the immunity provided by vaccines. Most vaccines are still effective against serious infections.
The Sinovac vaccine was 64.6% effective in preventing hospitalizations and 69% effective in preventing ICU admissions related to COVID-19, the Chilean study also showed.
An investigation by New York state scientists in February showed that Pfizer Inc.’s vaccine rapidly lost most of its ability to prevent infections in children ages 5 to 11 during the wave led by omicron.
In the research, developed in conjunction with other Chilean universities and hospitals, 963 children and adolescents between 3 and 17 years of age participated, who had been selected for the study at the end of 2021, according to a note from the Catholic University.
Source: Gestion
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