Nancy Lapid

(Reuters) – The following summarizes recent research on COVID-19. These include additional research to confirm the findings, and which has not yet been certified by peer review.

After COVID-19, antibodies are lacking in most unvaccinated children.

New data confirms that most children and teens do not carry COVID-19 antibodies after recovering from SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Researchers in Texas began recruiting 218 people aged 5 to 19 years old who were recovering from COVID infection at one time or another. At three-month intervals, each participant provided three blood samples. Over 90% of the children were not vaccinated at enrollment in this study. Online researchers in Pediatrics reported that the first blood test revealed infection-related antibodies in just one-third the children. Six months later only half the patients with these antibodies were still alive. This study was done to determine the level of antibody presence, but not its amount. Uncertain is the level of protection provided by antibodies. There were no significant differences in the protection levels of children with antibodies, regardless of whether they were symptomatic or severe.

Sarah Messiah from UTHealth School of Public Health Dallas stated that “it was the exact same for everybody.” Messiah explained that parents sometimes believe that their children are protected because they’ve had COVID-19. They don’t have to get the vaccine. “We have a wonderful tool that can give additional protection to children through getting their vaccine.”

Experimental GSK vaccine shows promise against Omicron

New data shows that a booster shot from an experimental vaccine developed by GSK provided “durable protection against Omicron variants in Rhesus macaques.”

Two doses of vaccine were given to the monkeys, with a booster six or twelve months later. Researchers reported Sunday that the antibodies found in blood from the booster primates were “remarkably high”. They could neutralize both Omicron virus strains and original Omicron strain infections. They also said that the animals’ second line immune defenses were “substantial” and continued to be effective. GBP510, a vaccine developed with SK Bioscience and called, activates immune responses by delivering copies from the coronavirus’ spike protein to the body. Nanoparticles made of the protein subunits have been embedded onto them to look like the virus. The adjuvant boosts immune system responses and is added to these components, according to Bali Pulendran from Stanford University.

Pulendran stated that two doses of vaccine, followed by one year’s worth of booster shots… and adjuvants, resulted in highly sustained antibody responses, as well protection from Omicron infection six months after the initial vaccination. GBP510 is currently being tested in large, late-stage human trials.

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ): Drug less Protective vs. Omicron among transplant patients

Research has shown that organ transplant recipients who have received AstraZeneca anti-COVID-19 shots to protect them from this Omicron variant are not protected adequately by these AstraZeneca shot.

Evusheld was able to protect kidney transplant recipients from the Delta variant. Lab test results were released Monday showing that Evusheld is capable of neutralizing Omicron infection in mice. Researchers reported that 9.4% of 416 recipients of kidney transplants were affected by Omicron, and one in three of them required hospitalization. Two COVID-19-related deaths occurred. Researchers exposed Omicron BA.1 to lab tests. This caused a massive winter surge and was detected in blood samples of 15 Evusheld patients. The virus could not be neutralized in any of these samples.

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advised that Omicron infections can be prevented by using higher Evusheld dosages and patients who had previously received these shots should get booster doses. Researchers advised kidney transplant patients to take sanitary precautions and receive booster vaccines.

Click for a Reuters graphic https://tmsnrt.rs/3c7R3Bl on vaccines in development.