A STUDY by University of Hong Kong has revealed that three shots of CoronaVac offered approximately 98% protection against death or severe illness in those over 60 years old, thus underscoring the importance of booster shots for those who have received their COVID-19 vaccines.
Specifically, after the three-dose booster vaccination for people over the age of 60, the effective rate of Sinovac vaccine against severe illness is 97.9% while the effective rate of the BioNTech vaccine was 98%.
The effective rates in preventing death for Sinovac and BioNTech vaccine recipients were 98.3% and 98.1% respectively.
The study went on to indicate that for people over 60 years old and in the case of completing two doses of vaccine, the effective rates of Sinovac and BioNTech in preventing severe illness were 72.2% and 89.6% respectively.
Meanwhile, the effective rates in preventing death were77.4% and 92.3% respectively.
“Realworld studies have confirmed the effectiveness of China’s inactivated vaccine and its safety advantages cannot be ignored,” the study said.
“It can avoid relatively serious adverse reactions such as a large number of fever, myocarditis and acute allergic reactions caused by the large-scale use of mRNA vaccines.”
The findings of the study which analysed patients hospitalised during Hong Kong’s continuing Omicron wave have implications for COVID-19 strategies in China.
Chinese official data also showed that the vaccine coverage of people who have received at least two shots was 88% and that 659 million people had received a booster jab.
The study noted, however, that there is still room for further improvement in the vaccination rate of the elderly in some areas as about half of the elderly aged 80 and above have yet to be vaccinated.
In Oct 2021, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended a third dose of CoronaVac to people aged 60 and above who have received two Sinovac shots. – March 24, 2022
