A study conducted by researchers from the ICMR-National Institute of Virology (NIV) to determine Omicron′s immune-escape potential, noted that it can better resist Covaxin compared to the original Wuhan variant (SARS-CoV-2 B.1), and the Beta and Delta variants. 

Investigators evaluated Omicron′s response to serum samples obtained from three groups of people, including those who had never had COVID-19 infection and had received two Covaxin doses, those who had received two doses after recovering from the infection, and those who got the infection after two shots of the vaccine.

Serum samples of the vaccinated individuals who had never contracted the infection, or the COVID-naïve, had a reduction in vaccine-induced neutralization against Omicron by 12.49 times, in comparison with the original Wuhan strain. Serum samples of those who got vaccinated after recoveryhad 7.9 times reduction, and the samples of those with breakthrough infections had 8.84-fold decline in neutralization induced by the vaccine. 

The experts, however, say that despite being less potent against the Omicron variant, Covaxin continues to protect against severe disease, hospitalization and death… (ET Healthworld – TNN, March 25, 2022)