The COVID-19 vaccine produced by Sinovac Biotech Ltd, which happens to be among the most widely used COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, has been reported to not produce enough antibodies to neutralize the COVID-19 Omicron variant, according to a research done by University of Hong Kong researchers.

The findings are expected to affect the millions of people around the world who have relied on the vaccine to protect themselves against coronavirus infections. In a statement released late last night, a team of researchers at the University of Hong Kong said the conclusions were drawn based on the results of a study of 25 individuals who received the complete Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine.

The study proved none of them showed sufficient antibodies in the blood serum to neutralize the Omicron variant. Meanwhile, in a separate study involving 25 individuals who received injections of RNA vaccines developed by Pfizer and BioNTech SE, the scientists discovered five subjects had the ability to neutralize the new variant.

This is in line with findings released last week by the two companies, which informed the third dose injection of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is sufficient to protect against the Omicron variant.

The researchers also recommended that the world's population should be revaccinated to fight this new strain while admitting there is still much unknown about Sinovac's response to Omicron. The Beijing-based company also did not immediately react to the findings from a study by the University of Hong Kong.

Based on these findings, the public is urgently advised to get a third dose as soon as possible.