More Reasons to get BioNTech Jab

More evidence shows BioNTech more effective than Sinovac

 

If there was more reason to get inoculated, a new study shows that those who had taken the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine had 10 times more antibodies than those who got the Sinovac jab, who generated "similar or lower" than naturally occurring ones seen in recovered patients.

The study by the University of Hong Kong and published in Lancet Microbe, suggested perhaps those who received the Sinovac vaccine could get a BioNTech booster shot to protect against Covid-19.

Cowling is one of the authors of the HKU study

Experts say higher levels of antibodies detected seem to correspond with long-lasting and stronger protection against infection.

One of the authors of the paper, Professor Ben Cowling, said that if BioNTech booster shots are offered, those who took Sinovac should be first in line to get the vaccine. He added they may need to get the shots sooner as he was concerned antibodies may not be detectable in those people after three to six months.

He dismissed suggestions that the Hong Kong government should not have purchased the Sinovac vaccines, saying having a vaccine was better than none, and that vaccines like Sinovac had saved many lives around the world.

"If there's a choice between not getting vaccinated and getting Sinovac, it's definitely much, much better to get Sinovac because there is protection against infection and there's a high level of protection against severe disease," he said.

Cowling says Sinovac is better than no vaccine

"In Hong Kong, when we're thinking about the alternatives, I would advise if you can get the BioNTech vaccine, get the BioNTech vaccine. I've said that all along, because it's a more effective vaccine, gives a higher protection of vaccine tat will likely last much longer.

"But if for some reason you can't receive the BioNTech vaccine, or there's another reason you don't want to get the BioNTech vaccine, still it's better to get the Sinovac vaccine than to not get vaccinated."

Hope that scientific reasoning will inspire more people to get vaccinated -- preferably with BioNTech.

So far over 36.9 percent of the population has had at least one jab, and just over 26 percent are fully vaccinated.