93% of those receiving both doses of Covishield vaccine developed antibodies: DMCH survey

Around 93 percent of those who received both doses of Covishield vaccine have developed antibodies against Covid-19, according to a latest survey.

Antibody tests were conducted on 308 fully vaccinated individuals, who are doctors, nurses and other employees of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).

Researchers at the Department of Microbiology, DMCH, said they collected samples for antibody tests twice (after each dose of the vaccine). Four weeks after the first dose, they found antibodies among 41 percent recipients. Two weeks after the second dose, researchers found antibodies among 93 percent of the recipients.

The results, however, cannot be generalised for all who have been vaccinated, researchers said.

The research was carried out for five months under the leadership of Dr SM Samsuzzaman, head of the Department of Microbiology.  

While revealing the study at DMCH today, Dr Samsuzzaman said 80 percent of the people who participated in the survey are above 50.

Asked how long the antibody will persist, he said once developed, it is likely to remain for six months. But scientists have no specific information on it, he said.

A vaccinated person can be infected with coronavirus later but the severity will be less and the patient may have little symptoms.