Protex Co., Ltd.
The vaccine for Omicron Co., Ltd. is one dose per person regardless of past vaccination history, so I want to be vaccinated efficiently! How to determine the optimal vaccination timing by assessing the effectiveness of the vaccine
Antibody survey against Omicron strains (January 2023) Current status report 5.
According to the government policy of the country, the vaccine for Omicron Co., Ltd. is determined to be one dose per person, regardless of past vaccination history. For that reason, Protex Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Wako City, Saitama Prefecture, Representative Director: Masao Nishizaki) has determined that the amount of antibodies against the new coronavirus Omicron strain will increase after September 2022, when general vaccination of the Omicron vaccine began. We are investigating whether it will change in our own laboratory. In this survey, we conducted an antibody prevalence survey from December 2022 to January 2023 targeting 181 people.
[Survey overview]
Test purpose: Investigation of the amount of antibodies against the new coronavirus
Inspection method: EasyDoc (R) that can check the amount of antibody retained (antibody titer) against the spike protein fragment (receptor binding region [*2]) of the conventional strain, Omicron strain (BA.5 (BA.4)) Investigation by “mutant antibody test”
Sample test period: December 1, 2022 to January 31, 2023
Target: 181 people living in Japan who received Easy Doc (R) “mutant strain antibody test” and agreed to cooperate with the survey Target (December): 114 people (13% under 20s, 12% in their 30s, 22% in their 40s, 26% in their 50s, 27% over 60s)
Target (January): 67 people (6% under 20s, 12% in their teens, 18% in their 40s, 30% in their 50s, 34% over 60s)
【Investigation result】
As a result of the survey, the status of the antibody possession survey against the currently prevalent Omicron strain BA.5 is that as of the end of January 2023, 37% do not possess a sufficient amount of antibody (reference value [*1] or more). I found out. The median antibody level increased significantly from 181 (AU/ml) to 286 (AU/ml) compared to the previous month. Possibility of effect of vaccination for Omicron strain (BA.5), which started in mid-October, is
considered. In addition, the amount of antibody against conventional strains, which is an indicator for vaccination, has also increased continuously since September.
It seems that the effect of vaccination against Omicron is spreading throughout society.
[Image 1
[Survey on changes in antibody titers of 4th vaccine recipients] [Image 2
On the other hand, if we focus on individuals after vaccination, it is known that even if the amount of antibody is high after vaccination, the antibody decreases. According to the report of the 108th Tokyo Metropolitan Government Novel Coronavirus Infectious Disease Monitoring Meeting (the figure below is created based on meeting materials), the neutralizing antibody titer (RBD) after the 4th vaccination remained almost unchanged until 3 months after
vaccination. , and then attenuates, and the amount of antibody (antibody titer) is about 1/4 in May-June. As a guideline, it was imagined that vigilance would be required when about 4 months had passed after vaccination.
However, the type of antibody produced by vaccination and the amount of antibody (antibody titer) vary from person to person. In order to know the risk of an individual becoming ill, it is important to understand the amount of antibodies against the currently prevalent variant (BA.5). The level of antibody retention allows us to effectively understand the degree of possible risk, and by
understanding that risk, we can take appropriate infection prevention measures, including vaccination.
In May of this year, the government policy will shift from “equivalent to 2 types” to “5 types” (while infection control is shifting to the responsibility of individuals), and by visualizing the risk due to this amount of antibody possession, It is expected that infection prevention will progress.
[Background of conducting the survey]
According to the results of the possession survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare’s 80th New Corona Infectious Disease Control Advisory Board (April 13, 2022), the antibody possession rate that indicates the effectiveness of the vaccine (antibody production) is about 96%. was. However, despite the fact that many of the vaccine recipients have become carriers of
antibodies, a new strain of BA.5 has emerged and the eighth wave has arrived. Therefore, a new vaccine was introduced to make immunity (antibodies) against the mutant strain.
Therefore, after September 2022, when the Omicron-compatible vaccine was generally introduced, we will measure the current status of the antibody carrier rate against the Omicron mutant strain every month, and measure the effectiveness (presence or absence of antibodies against BA.5) and efficacy of the Omicron-compatible vaccine. I decided to investigate (antibody amount).
【summary】
Knowing that you have enough antibodies against Omicron strain BA.5, which is currently the most prevalent strain, can be very reassuring. Then, you can check the amount of antibody (antibody titer) against Omicron strains BA.5, BA.2, and BA.1 in detail, and use it for your own infection prevention measures and consideration of vaccination timing.
However, it is important to accurately understand your own situation, not just the amount of antibody (antibody titer). This understanding of your own situation may be useful for those who feel uneasy about vaccination against the Omicron strain to determine the opportunity and timing of vaccination.
We will continue to conduct small but useful surveys in order to reduce the number of people infected with the new coronavirus as much as possible.
[Test results so far]
Survey September 2022:
https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=000000015.000082322&g=prt
October 2022 survey: https://medical.jiji.com/prtimes/135297 Survey in November 2022:
https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=000000018.000082322&g=prt
December 2022 Survey:
https://www.jiji.com/jc/article?k=000000022.000082322&g=prt
▽ Past research (reference)
We examined the amount of antibody (antibody titer) in the following three people who are considering vaccination.
-Target person-
Mr. A (50s): 3rd dose of conventional vaccine (monovalent), 8 months after vaccination. No awareness of infection.
Mr. B (40s): 4th dose of conventional vaccine (monovalent), 6 months after vaccination. No awareness of infection.
Mr. C (40s): Not vaccinated. No awareness of infection.
[Image 3
It was found that the antibody retention status corresponding to the Omicron strain was different. From the above figure, Mr. A and Mr. B, who were vaccinated with the conventional vaccine (monovalent), confirmed that Mr. B has antibodies against the Omicron strain and Mr. A has not been detected. However, in Mr. B, antibodies corresponding to BA.5, which is currently prevalent, were not detected. Antibodies to the Omicron strain were detected in Mr. C, who had not been vaccinated, indicating that he was infected. In addition, when Mr. A was inoculated with the Omicron strain vaccine (bivalent), an additional survey was conducted, and the amount of antibody (antibody titer) against the Omicron strain increased.
[Image 4
[Points to note in this survey]
In this survey, there is a “selection bias” that people who have a high interest in measures against the new coronavirus infection participated in the survey, partly because they cooperated with the test for a fee. This bias may have influenced the results of this study.
[About the mutant antibody test used this time]
[Image 5
Until now, antibody tests have shown that antibodies have been produced by infection or vaccination, but it has not been possible to determine which mutants have the antibodies.
For this reason, Protex Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Wako City, Saitama Prefecture, Representative Director: Masao Nishizaki) can examine antibodies against four types of Omicron strains BA.5, BA.2, BA.1, and conventional strains. We provide Easy Doc (R) “mutant strain antibody test” that can be tested at.
▽ TV coverage of this service
[Image 6
[Reason why “mutant antibody test” is required]
[Image 7
There are individual differences in the degree to which antibodies are produced by vaccination or infection. In addition, it is known that the amount of antibody (antibody titer) that rises once after vaccination decreases as the days pass. By doing the Easy Doc (R) “mutant antibody test”, you can know how effective the vaccination is and how much the antibody is several months after the vaccination. [Benefits of taking an inspection]
Knowing that you or your relatives have sufficient antibodies can help you feel more secure in your everyday life. Also, if you know that your antibody level (antibody titer) is low, you can pay more attention when traveling or watching sports. In the future, we would like to develop it into a judgment material for vaccination timing. [Outline of service]
[Image 8
Product name: Easy Doc (R) “mutant strain antibody test” (for research) Inspection items: Omicron strain antibody test (RBD region), antibody test to examine the effect of vaccination.
Antibody test to check past infection history (optional test) Blood collection method: Self-collection * Blood collection can be done at home Inspection method: Microarray automatic measurement system, ELISA method Application method: Apply from the “Easy Doc (R)” site on your smartphone or PC Sales price: 9,900 yen (tax included)
[Site URL]
Easydoc (R) URL is https://easydoc.jp/
[Image 9
[Distributor]
Company name: Protex Co., Ltd.
Address: Wako Riken Incubation Plaza, 2-3-13 Minami, Wako City, Saitama Prefecture
Business: Research and development of highly sensitive detection technology for viruses and bacteria, manufacture and sale of reagents, etc.
[Commentary]
*1 The standard value (120 AU/ml) refers to the amount of antibody (antibody titer) that is estimated to have a sufficient virus-blocking effect in experiments using cultured cells (this estimate is based on experimental results. ). However, it does not mean that the effect will be lost if the value falls below this standard value, and the probability of exhibiting a sufficient effect is said to decrease according to the amount of antibody (antibody titer) (for antibodies against conventional strains, half the standard value). probability of about 80%).
*2 An antibody that binds to the receptor binding region can be a neutralizing antibody.
Details about this release:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000023.000082322.html