- New data from ongoing trials showed increased antibody response against Beta, Delta, Alpha and Gamma variants following a third dose booster with AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
- Additional analysis showed increased antibody response to Omicron after a third dose
Positive results from a preliminary analysis of an ongoing safety and immunogenicity trial (D7220C00001) showed that AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine (ChAdOx1-S [Recombinant]), when given as a third dose booster, increased the immune response to Beta, Delta, Alpha and Gamma SARS-CoV-2 variants, while a separate analysis of samples from the trial showed increased antibody response to the Omicron variant.
The results were observed among individuals previously vaccinated with either AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine or an mRNA vaccine.
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Sir Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President-BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca said: “AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine has protected hundreds of millions of people from COVID-19 around the world, and these data show that it has an important role to play as a third dose booster – including when used after other vaccines. Given the ongoing urgency of the pandemic and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine’s increased immune response to the Omicron variant, we will continue to progress regulatory submissions around the world for its use as a third dose booster”.
Professor Sir Andrew J Pollard, chief investigator and director of the Oxford Vaccine Group at the University of Oxford said: “These important studies show that a third dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine after two initial doses of the same vaccine, or after mRNA or inactivated vaccines, strongly boosts immunity against COVID-19. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is suitable as an option to enhance immunity in the population for countries considering booster programmes, adding to the protection already demonstrated with the first two doses”.
Barbara Nel, Country President, Africa-AstraZeneca said: “The latest AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine data show the vaccine, when used as a third dose booster, increases the immune response against all variants of concern; including when used after other vaccines. This is of particular importance considering the spread of the Omicron variant. This is really positive news for sub-Saharan Africa, where over 70m doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine have been supplied and where countries are striving to attain their vaccination targets, and some are beginning to roll out booster programmes”.
The D7220C00001 safety and immunogenicity trial showed that the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine continued to be generally well-tolerated. Further analyses from the trial are expected in the first half of 2022.
