Oxford Research Study: AstraZeneca Vaccine, Pfizer Effective Against COVID-19 Delta Variant

JAKARTA - The COVID-19 vaccine created by AstraZeneca and the Pfizer-BioNTech alliance remains broadly effective against the Delta and Kappa variants of the virus that causes COVID-19, which was first identified in India. These findings are according to a scientific study that supports the ongoing urge to give injections.

The study by Oxford University researchers, published in the journal Cell, investigated the ability of antibodies in the blood of people vaccinated with the two-injection regimen to neutralize the highly contagious Delta and Kappa variants, according to a statement.

"There is no evidence to suggest that the current generation of vaccines will protect the B.1,617 lineage", said the newspaper, referring to the Delta and Kappa variants with commonly used codes as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, June 23.

However, the concentration of neutralizing antibodies in the blood is somewhat reduced, which could lead to some breakthrough infections, they warn.

Last week, an analysis by Public Health England (PHE) showed that a vaccine made by Pfizer Inc and AstraZeneca offered more than 90 percent high protection against inpatients from the Delta variant.

"We are encouraged to look at the published non-clinical results from Oxford and these data, in addition to a recent preliminary real-world analysis from Public Health England, give us a positive indication that our vaccine could have a significant impact on the Delta variant", said AstraZeneca Executive, Mene Pangalos, in a separate statement.

The Delta variant is becoming the globally dominant version of the disease, the World Health Organization's chief scientist said Friday, June 18.

The Oxford researchers also analyzed patterns of reinfection in people who had previously had COVID-19. The risk of reinfection with the Delta variant appears to be particularly high in individuals previously infected with the Beta and Gamma lineages that emerged in South Africa and Brazil, respectively.

In contrast, previous infection with variant Alpha, or B117, which was first detected in the UK, provides "reasonable" cross-protection against all variants of concern.

"B117 may be a candidate for a new vaccine variant to provide the broadest possible protection", the researchers said.