Fed Uni and Ballarat Health Services are partnering in research to boost COVID vaccine outcomes

Federation University and Ballarat Health Services have formed a research partnership to put the AstraZeneca vaccine under the microscope to improve outcomes for the 10 to 20 per cent of people for whom the vaccine is less effective.

Global studies have proven that Astra Zeneca is a highly effective vaccine and protects against COVID 19. After the first dose of the vaccine, those vaccinated are more than 90 per cent less likely to be hospitalised with COVID-19 and with two doses of the vaccine, spaced 12 weeks apart, those vaccinated are 80 per cent less likely to get sick with the virus.

But there is no way to identify those in whom the vaccine may not be effective before it is administered.

The Federation University research group led by immunologist Prof Stuart Berzins is collaborating with Dr Stephen Brown and Dr Wasek Faisal from BHS to investigate the role of specialised immune cells called Mucosal Associated Invariant T (MAIT) cells in generating an effective response to the COVID-19 vaccine.

MAIT cell can regulate the functions of other immune cells and are important in the effectiveness of some vaccines.

The team chose to focus on the AstraZeneca vaccine because it involves MAIT cell response, is being produced in Australia and will be used by most Australians who have the vaccine.

What is known about MAIT cells is that their frequency varies across the population, which is why it is considered a key target in determining the effectiveness of vaccines.

"This study will provide a better understanding of the immune factors that are important for optimising vaccine effectiveness and may help develop a means of predicting which individuals may not respond optimally to vaccines so that we can identify and improve protection for these people," said Federation University Professor of Immunology Stuart Berzins.

"The findings generated by this study may help to optimise our vaccination response against COVID-19 and may provide novel avenues to more broadly improve vaccine design and treatment protocols."

The study will focus on healthy individuals and those who have been diagnosed with cancer, where immune deficiencies including MAIT cell abnormalities are common.

Blood samples will be taken before and after vaccination to see the impact of MAIT cell levels and function.

IN OTHER NEWS

"Testing the immune response in individuals with cancer is extremely valuable because these individuals are often immune compromised, and it is important to determine how well they are protected by vaccination against COVID-19," said BHS oncology chief Dr Stephen Brown.

Senior oncologist Dr Wasek Faisal said the study was a "perfect example" where Federation University and BHS could work together to address important problems.

"Cancer patients can have an increased risk of infections so it is critically important to understand how effective vaccinations are in protecting this group against COVID-19 and to identify the immune cells that are the most important factors so we can eventually provide even more effective protection," he said.

Our team of local journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the Ballarat community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: