Heterologous Omicron-adapted vaccine as a secondary booster promotes neutralizing antibodies against Omicron and its sub-lineages in mice

Over one billion people have received 2-3 dosages of an inactivated COVID-19 vaccine for basic immunization. Whether a booster dose should be delivered to protect against the Omicron variant and its sub-lineages, remains controversial. Here, we tested different vaccine platforms targeting the ancestral or Omicron strain as a secondary booster of the ancestral inactivated vaccine in mice. We found that the Omicron-adapted inactivated viral vaccine promoted a neutralizing antibody response against Omicron in mice. Furthermore, heterologous immunization with COVID-19 vaccines based on different platforms remarkably elevated the levels of cross- neutralizing antibody against Omicron and its sub-lineages. Omicron-adapted vaccines based on heterologous platforms should be prioritized in future vaccination strategies to control COVID-19.

Automated summary

Over one billion people have received 2-3 dosages of an inactivated COVID-19 vaccine for basic immunization. The necessity of a booster dose to protect against the Omicron variant is still debated. In this study, researchers tested different vaccine platforms in mice and found that Omicron-adapted inactivated viral vaccines generated a neutralizing antibody response against Omicron. Heterologous immunization with COVID-19 vaccines based on different platforms also significantly increased cross-neutralizing antibody levels against Omicron and its sub-lineages. The findings suggest that Omicron-adapted vaccines based on heterologous platforms should be prioritized in future COVID-19 vaccination strategies.