Possible influence of anti-vector immunity and SARS-CoV-2 variants on
efficacy of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine and the proposal of a new
pharmacotherapy
Abstract
The present work analyses in detail the published data on ChAdOx1
nCoV-19 vaccine and provides arguments for the involvement of
anti-vector immunity and of SARS-CoV-2 variants on the efficacy of
ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine. First, it is suggested that anti-vector
immunity takes place as the regimen of homologous vaccination with
ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine is applied and interferes with efficacy of the
vaccine when the interval between prime and boost doses is less than
three months. Second, longitudinal studies suggest that ChAdOx1 nCoV-19
vaccine provides sub-optimal efficacy against UK variant of SARS-CoV-2,
which appears to have an increased transmissibility over the ancestral
SARS-CoV-2 among vaccinated people. At the moment, ChAdOx1 nCoV-19
vaccine is able to reduce the severity of symptoms and transmissibility;
however, if the vaccinated individuals do not maintain everyday
preventive actions, they could turn into potential spreaders, thus
accelerating the process of generation of new viral variants due to the
selective pressure of immune response. Prediction and possible
consequences of the SARS-CoV-2 evolution and repeated anti-SARS-CoV-2
vaccinations are discussed. Since the impact of emerging SARS-CoV-2
variants suggests that vaccines are unlikely to be effective in quickly
solving the pandemic crisis, it is highlighted the need to keep
searching for new and more efficacious pharmacotherapy for COVID-19,
such as those targeting ACE2 and ADAM17 zinc-metalloprotease activities.