Serum Institute on the up as Oxford study backs AstraZ booster for Omicron

Vaxzevria significantly boosts antibodies against the rapidly spreading variant of the coronavirus, shows study

A third booster shot of the AstraZeneca-Oxford Covid-19 vaccine, Vaxzevria, significantly boosts antibodies against the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, said the British drug company.

This brightens the scope for Serum Institute of India (SII) which makes Covishield, the domestic version of the Vaxzevria. Experts believe mixing vaccine shots may give better results in boosting immunity. However, the University of Oxford has supported the use of Vaxzevria as a third booster dose against Omicron. SII is sitting on 500 mn doses of Covishield (half of which is in bulk drug form), and has already cut production by half owing to