BioNTech produces 10 times more antibodies than China's Sinovac: study - Yahoo Singapore News

People who received BioNTech's coronavirus vaccine had ten times the amount of antibodies than those given China's Sinovac, a Hong Kong study has shown, adding to growing data on different jabs' effectiveness.

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) research, based on a study of 1,442 healthcare workers, was published in Lancet Microbe on Thursday.

Researchers said antibodies are not the only measure of a vaccine's success at fighting a particular disease.

But they warned that "the difference in concentrations of neutralising antibodies identified in our study could translate into substantial differences in vaccine effectiveness".

Those who received Sinovac had "similar or lower" levels of antibodies to those seen in patients who caught and successfully fought off the disease.

The study adds to the growing body of evidence that vaccines using pioneering mRNA technology -- such as BioNTech and Moderna -- offer better protection against the coronavirus and its variants that those developed by more traditional methods such as using inactivated virus parts.

Traditional vaccines are cheaper to produce and less complicated to transport and store, making them a vital tool for fighting the pandemic in less wealthy countries.

- 'Many lives still saved' -

Epidemiologist Ben Cowling, one of the report's authors, said people should still get vaccinated with Sinovac if there was no other option because some protection was always better than none.

"Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good," he told AFP.

"It is clearly better to go and get vaccinated with an inactivated vaccine than to wait and not get vaccinated," he added.

"Many, many lives have been saved by the inactivated vaccine."

The researchers said their data suggested "alternative strategies" such as earlier booster shots might be needed to increase protection for those who have received Sinovac.

Cowling said when to give booster shots would be the next phase of their ongoing studies.

"The priority would be boosters for people who received Sinovac while boosters for people who initially received BioNTech might not be so urgent," he said.

- Politics -

Hong Kong has been a world leader in studying coronaviruses ever since a SARS outbreak which began in southern China swept through the city in 2003.

The city currently offers both German-made BioNTech shots and Sinovac.

Despite ample supplies, take-up has been slow, with only 28 percent of the city's 7.5 million residents fully vaccinated with two shots.

So far some 2.6 million BioNTech doses have been administered compared to 1.8 million Sinovac shots.

The rollout has been caught up in Hong Kong's febrile politics, as China cracks down on dissent in the city in response to huge and often violent democracy protests two years ago.

At the start of the vaccination campaign Hong Kong's pro-Beijing leaders very visibly and near unanimously opted for Sinovac.

One doctor's clinic that recommended BioNTech over Sinovac was kicked out of the city's vaccination programme.

Many of the city's leading epidemiologists have gone with BioNTech, and said publicly that it is their preferred shot.

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2021-07-16 06:01:16Z
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Rise in sea robbery incidents in Singapore Strait despite overall drop in the region - CNA

SINGAPORE: Armed robbery incidents on ships in the Singapore Strait rose in the first half of 2021, with the majority involving bigger vessels such as bulk carriers.

From January to June this year, a total of 20 armed robbery incidents took place within the Singapore Strait, up from 16 in the same period a year before, according to a maritime information sharing centre on Friday (Jul 16).

This was in contrast to a 35 per cent drop in the number of incidents in the region during the same period, said the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) Information Sharing Centre.

During first six months of the year, there were 37 armed robbery incidents in Asia, down from 57 in the same period last year, with fewer cases reported locations such as India, Indonesia, the Philippines and the South China Sea.

Mr Masafumi Kuroki, the centre’s executive director, said the “continued occurrence” of incidents on board ships in the Singapore Strait remains a concern, adding that incidents are likely to continue to occur if the perpetrators are not arrested.

READ: Sea robbery incidents in Singapore Strait rise again in 2020

INCIDENTS IN SINGAPORE STRAIT

Out of the incidents in the Singapore Strait, 16 took place in the eastbound lane of the Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS), in the waters off Tanjung Pergam, Bintan Island, Indonesia.

They occurred during hours of darkness on bulk carriers, tankers and a general cargo ship, said ReCAAP, adding that the majority of incidents involved groups of four men.

Seven incidents involved perpetrators with knives.

A map of the Singapore Strait indicating where armed robbery incidents occurred from January to June 2021. (Photo: ReCAAP)

Speaking to reporters at a virtual briefing, Mr Kuroki said: “It is no longer petty theft, it is more serious crimes when perpetrators are armed with knives or other weapons or if crew is threatened or injured.

"So it is a concern for the maritime community that such incidents took place in the Singapore Strait."

He added that some of the incidents took place almost at the same time at different locations, indicating that there are likely several groups of perpetrators.

"STRENGTHENED RESPONSE"

Mr John Bradford, a senior fellow in the Maritime Security Programme at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), noted that the waters off Tanjung Pergam have been the most dangerous part of the Singapore Strait, in terms of sea robberies.

“This is the Indonesian side of the Strait, closer to ports from which the criminals operate and where law enforcement capacity is generally less,” he told CNA in an email interview.

The trend of rising incidents in the Singapore Strait is also notable because ReCAAP numbers showed that robbery was “almost stamped out from 2016 to 2018,” he said. 

“Since then, the rate of reported incidents has been increasing.”

This rise merits a “strengthened response”, said Mr Bradford, adding that it is important to stamp out any criminal activities before they become more problematic.

To address this issue, ReCAAP’s Mr Kuroki said: “What is important is to strengthen law enforcement efforts by the littoral states.” 

He noted that law enforcement agencies of the three littoral states – Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore – are already working together, and that he hopes they will continue to “enhance their efforts at coordination and cooperation”.

“At the same time, the shipping industry knows where the incidents are taking place. They have to enhance their vigilance in that area,” he said.

READ: Sea robbery incidents in Singapore Strait double in first half of 2020

OVERALL SITUATION

Overall, there were improvements in the region, noted ReCAAP.

There were no incidents of the highest severity level, Category 1, and just one incident in Category 2.

About 70 per cent of incidents were categorised as low level, where the perpetrators were not armed and the crew were not harmed.

ReCAAP added that there were no incidents involving the abduction of crew members in the Sulu-Celebes Seas and waters off Eastern Sabah during the first half of this year. The latest incident was in January 2020.

Over the past few years, the total number of actual and attempted abductions have also fallen, with none taking place in the past six months, noted ReCAAP.

But it added that the Abu Sayyaf Group, which was responsible for the abduction last January, is still at large.

Thus, the “threat of abduction of crew from ships remains high, particularly in the areas of Sulu and nearby waters off Tawi-Tawi,” it said.

Mr Bradford said that although authorities from the Philippines and Malaysia deserve some credit for having “neutralised key criminal leaders” from the Abu Sayyaf group, the risk of abductions is still a concern.

He added that the concerns stem from “international maritime boundaries where criminals can exploit seams between law enforcement and other governance activities”.

“Therefore the response must be coordinated internationally. It is important to improve this coordination and, especially, to ensure critical data is being shared reliably and safely,” he said.

STAYING VIGILANT

When asked about the role of COVID-19 on sea robbery incidents, Mr Kuroki said it has been “difficult” to make a link.

“Last year when there was COVID-19, the number of incidents increased in Asia, whereas for the first six months of this year, the number of incidents decreased in general in Asia.

"So it’s difficult to know if there is any impact of the pandemic on incidents,” he said.

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2021-07-16 09:48:59Z
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BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine produces 10 times more antibodies than Sinovac: Hong Kong study - The Straits Times

HONG KONG (BLOOMBERG) - There is a substantial gap in the amount of antibodies that mRNA and inactivated vaccines can generate against the virus that causes Covid-19, according to a Hong Kong study.

It is the latest finding on what may have contributed to the varied outcomes following mass vaccination using different types of shots.

The research, published in The Lancet on Thursday (July 15), found that antibody levels among Hong Kong health workers who have been fully vaccinated with BioNTech's mRNA shot are about 10 times higher than those observed in the recipients of the inactivated vaccine from Sinovac Biotech.

While disease-fighting antibodies do not account for the full picture when it comes to measuring the ability to generate immunity and the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccines, "the difference in concentrations of neutralising antibodies identified in our study could translate into substantial differences in vaccine effectiveness", the researchers said.

The finding adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting the superiority of mRNA vaccines in providing potent and comprehensive protection against Sars-CoV-2 and its variants, compared with vaccines developed by more traditional methods such as inactivated shots.

Countries from Israel to the United States that have relied mostly on mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech, as well as Moderna, have seen a marked reduction in infections.

Those using mostly inactivated shots from China's Sinovac and Sinopharm have not experienced as much of a dent in case numbers, though the use of both kinds has significantly prevented more severe Covid-19 cases and fatalities.

The lower effectiveness of inactivated vaccines has prompted countries from Thailand to the United Arab Emirates to offer already fully vaccinated people another booster shot as the more infectious Delta variant fuels a resurgence in infections.

The Hong Kong study also suggested that future research could look into how booster shots could shore up antibody levels and protection among people vaccinated with inactivated shots.

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2021-07-16 04:20:20Z
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Boy who had cardiac arrest after first Pfizer vaccine dose out of ICU - Yahoo Singapore News

A nurse prepares to vaccinate healthcare workers at Gleneagles hospital, during the coronavirus disease in Singapore on 19 January, 2021. (PHOTO: Reuters(

SINGAPORE — The 16-year-old boy who suffered a cardiac arrest six days after receiving his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech/Cominarty COVID-19 vaccine has been transferred out of the intensive care unit (ICU), said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Thursday (15 July).

In its response to Yahoo News Singapore's media query, the ministry said that he has been transferred to a high dependency ward in the National University Hospital (NUH)'s coronary care unit for "close monitoring and observation". 

He remains stable and the MOH is still investigating the underlying cause leading to his cardiac arrest, the ministry added.

"Our priority is the well-being of the patient and he is under the close medical care of an excellent team in the (NUH) and our hopes and well wishes are with him and his family for a steady recovery," said the MOH.

The boy had been taking supplements and was lifting weights almost twice his body at the gym when he collapsed on the morning of 3 July, six days after he received his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine on 27 June.

The boy was transferred on the same evening to the NUH's ICU in critical condition from the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH), where he was first treated.

In the same statement on Thursday, the MOH reiterated that the recent death of a 16-year-old boy, whose obituary went viral online, was not vaccine-related. 

The boy had not received any doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, the ministry stressed. The obituary in question stated that the boy, who was born in 2005, had died on 10 July.

"We urge the public not to spread unsubstantiated information which may add to the family’s grief or cause public alarm," it said.

As of 30 June, there have been 12 reports of myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, and pericarditis, or inflammation of the lining around the heart, occurring in individuals following their vaccinations with mRNA COVID-19 vaccines. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines authorised for use in Singapore under the nationwide programme are based on mRNA technology.

Five of the cases occurred in adults aged 30 years old and above.

The remaining seven involved males aged below 30 years old, higher than expected for the particular age group, based on background incidence rates.

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2021-07-15 15:53:26Z
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Malaysia to stop using Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine after supply ends: Health minister - CNA

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's health ministry on Thursday (Jul 15) said the country will stop administering the COVID-19 vaccine produced by China's Sinovac once its supplies end, as it has a sufficient number of other vaccines for its programme.

Malaysia's inoculation drive will be largely anchored by the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine moving forward, health minister Adham Baba told a news conference with other top ministry officials.

The Southeast Asian country has secured about 45 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, enough to cover 70 per cent of the population, compared to 16 million doses of Sinovac's shot, the officials said.

"About half of the 16 million have already been distributed, so the rest will be used to cover second doses," Adham said.

"For those who have yet to be vaccinated, they will receive the Pfizer vaccine."

READ: More than 13,000 new COVID-19 cases in Malaysia in 3rd straight day of record numbers

READ: Malaysia government mulls giving 'leeway' to those fully vaccinated against COVID-19: PM Muhyiddin

The government had previously said it had secured 12 million Sinovac doses, as part of a deal which would see state-linked firm Pharmaniaga carrying out a fill-and-finish process on the vaccine for local distribution.

The announcement to stop using Sinovac's inactivated virus vaccine comes amid increasing concern over its efficacy against new and more contagious variants of the coronavirus.

Neighbouring Thailand this week said it would use the AstraZeneca vaccine as a second dose for those who received the Sinovac shot, while Indonesia is considering a booster shot for those who received the two-dose Sinovac course.

READ: Thailand defends COVID-19 vaccine 'mix-and-match' after WHO warning

Other vaccines approved in Malaysia include those of AstraZeneca, China's CanSino Biologic and the Janssen vaccine of Johnson & Johnson.

Malaysia also plans on Friday to announce its decision on whether to add the vaccine of China's Sinopharm, officials said.

With 880,782 cases and 6,613 deaths so far, Malaysia has one of Southeast Asia's highest per-capita infection rates, but also one of its highest inoculation rates, with about 26 per cent of its 32 million population receiving at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. 

BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and its developments

Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram

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2021-07-15 14:37:30Z
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WHO experts warn 'more dangerous' Covid-19 variants could take hold - The Straits Times

GENEVA (AFP) - The World Health Organisation's emergency committee warned on Thursday (July 15) that new and more dangerous Covid-19 variants were expected to spread around the world, making it harder to halt the pandemic.

The announcement was further bad news as several countries battle a new wave of infections fanned by new variants, namely Delta which was first identified in India.

"The pandemic is nowhere near finished," the committee warned in a statement on Thursday following a meeting a day earlier.

Committee chairman Didier Houssin acknowledged to reporters that "recent trends are worrying".

He said a year-and-a half after the WHO first declared a so-called Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) - its highest alert level - "we are still running after this virus and the virus is still running after us".

For now, four concerning variants of Covid-19 are dominating the global pandemic picture: Alpha, Beta, Gamma and especially the rapidly spreading Delta variant.

But the committee warned that worse could lie ahead, pointing to "the strong likelihood for the emergence and global spread of new and possibly more dangerous variants of concern that may be even more challenging to control".

WHO declares variants as being "of concern" when they are seen as either more transmissible, more deadly or have the potential to get past some vaccine protections.

"The pandemic remains a challenge globally with countries navigating different health, economic and social demands," the committee said.

"Countries with advanced access to vaccines and well-resourced health systems are under pressure to fully reopen their societies," it said.

On the other hand, "countries with limited access to vaccines are experiencing new waves of infections, seeing erosion of public trust" as well as "growing economic hardship, and, in some instances, increasing social unrest", it added.

The experts said that as a result in many countries were many "increasingly divergent policy decisions that address narrow national needs which inhibit a harmonised approach to the global response".

They added that "the use of masks, physical distancing, hand hygiene, and improved ventilation of indoor spaces remains key to reducing transmission".

They underscored the need to vaccinate at least 10 per cent of the population of each country by September and for vaccine sharing between richer countries and poorer ones.

"Many countries have now vaccinated their priority populations, it is recommended that doses should be shared with countries that have limited access before expanding national vaccination programmes into lower risk groups."

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2021-07-15 16:28:23Z
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16-year-old who had cardiac arrest after Covid-19 vaccine jab transferred out of ICU - The Straits Times

SINGAPORE - The 16-year-old boy who suffered cardiac arrest after taking his Covid-19 vaccine has been transferred out of the intensive care unit and his medical condition remains stable, said the Ministry of Health on Thursday (July 15).

MOH told The Straits Times that the patient has been transferred to a high dependency ward in the coronary care unit for close monitoring and observation.

On July 5, MOH said that the boy collapsed following a weightlifting session six days after his first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty Covid-19 vaccine.

"We are still investigating the underlying cause. Our priority is the well-being of the patient, and he is under the close medical care of an excellent team in the National University Hospital," said MOH on Thursday.

"Our hopes and well wishes are with him and his family for a steady recovery," it added.

MOH reiterated that the death of a 16-year-old boy whose obituary had gone viral was not vaccine-related, and that the boy had not received any doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

"We urge the public not to spread unsubstantiated information which may add to the family's grief or cause public alarm," it added.

In Facebook post on Wednesday, MOH said that it was aware of the "speculation in Facebook, Telegram and WhatsApp chat groups" featuring an obituary that led to the conjecture that the teenager had died from a "vaccine-related severe adverse event".

It clarified that the boy's death was not due to the vaccine, and that the two cases were unrelated.

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2021-07-15 14:27:15Z
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