COVID-19 vaccines may be less effective at neutralising new BQ.1.1 and XBB.1 variants

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-01-19 14:12

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Vaccinated people produce fewer neutralising antibodies in response to new BQ.1.1 and XBB.1 COVID-19 variants than to previous dominant Omicron variants, according to international research. The researchers tested the antibody response of a small group of people who had received multiple mRNA vaccines when exposed to the original Wuhan variant and Omicron subvariants BA.5, BF.7, BA.2.75.2, BQ.1.1, and XBB.1. The researchers say the antibody response was significantly lower for the last two compared to the others. They say this information is just part of the picture, and protection against severe infection from these variants could come down to the T cell response if the antibody response is weakened.