Exact Answer: At least 14 days
The Sinopharm vaccine that targeted COVID-19 infections is also known as BBIBP-CorV or the BIBP vaccine. This is one of the two COVID-19 vaccines that used inactivated viruses and developed and produced by a state-owned Chinese enterprise known as Sinopharm which owns the Beijing Institute of Biological Products.
Unlike the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines which come under the category of mRNA vaccines, the Sinopharm vaccine is a vaccine that employs inactivated viruses. Although this makes the Sinopharm vaccine work with a lesser efficacy than the mRNA vaccines, it is easier to transport and store them. mRNA vaccines need to be transported and placed in deep-freeze trucks and facilities, while the Sinopharm vaccine can be moved and kept at a normal temperature for refrigeration.
How Long After Sinopharm Vaccine Are You Immune?
| Objective | Answer |
| Duration between first dose and second dose | 3-4 weeks |
| Duration between second dose and build-up of immunity | At least 14 days |
| Approximate efficacy | Around 78% |
The Sinopharm vaccine is one that uses inactivated viruses to provide immunity against COVID-19 infections. Two doses are required and the second dose must be administered 3-4 weeks after the first dose of the Sinopharm vaccine. This interval is advised and recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Like both Covaxin and CoronaVac vaccines, the Sinopharm vaccine makes use of a traditional method of manufacturing the vaccine containing inactivated viruses. A sample of the SARS-CoV-2 strain is procured to begin the rapid multiplication of the virus.
Then the strain is allowed to multiply into a large amount of the virus with the help of Vero cells. Next, beta-propiolactone is used to soak the viruses. By soaking them, the beta-propiolactone binds to the viruses’ genes, and deactivates them, without breaking their viral structure.
These inactivated viruses are then mixed with aluminum hydroxide, which acts as an adjuvant that maximizes the body’s immune response against the antigen. This is how the vaccine is produced and manufactured.
The vaccine must be administered into the deltoid muscle using an intramuscular injection.
The word immunity describes the ability of our bodies to fight and prevent pathogens that might have invaded the body. Pathogens are substances that are foreign and those that may cause diseases. Examples of pathogens include viruses and bacteria. These pathogens carry antigens that are attached to their surfaces. Antigens are responsible for triggering a response from the body’s immune system when pathogens do enter the body. Immune responses are the body’s way to defend itself against pathogens and antigens, in order to protect the person.
Why Does It Take That Long To Become Immune After Sinopharm Vaccine?
Vaccines like the Sinopharm vaccine use inactivated viruses to trigger an immune response that builds immunity against the particular virus, for future use.
Once the vaccine is administered, antigen-presenting cells in the body engulf the inactivated viruses in the vaccine. The virus is then torn apart inside the antigen-presenting cell. Then the antigen-presenting cells present a few of the fragments of the virus on its surface. Here, if a surface protein fits with one of the virus fragments, then it activates a T cell which then calls for other immune cells to start fighting.
Also, B cells possess surface proteins that can attach themselves to the inactivated virus. Like the T cell, the B cells can also tear the virus and display its fragments on themselves.
When a helper T cell is activated, it can also hook itself onto the virus fragment, and this activates the B cell. This causes the B cell to multiply and produce antibodies. These antibodies will be in the same shape as their surface proteins.
These antibodies are now ready to attack the virus from entering other cells and causing damage. These antibodies target the spike protein in the virus and destroy the virus using the body’s immune system.
Memory B cells can help retain the important information about the production of antibodies for the virus. These cells come into play when the body comes into contact with the same virus later in life. These memory B cells remember the antibodies that need to be produced and trigger a quicker immune response against the virus.
The process of making antibodies can take a bit of time, which is why the Sinopharm vaccine takes at least 14 days after the second dose to build immunity in the body.
Conclusion
Therefore we can understand that immunity is built around 2 weeks after receiving the second dose of the Sinopharm vaccine. The second dose is incredibly important so it is important to receive the second dose after 3 or 4 weeks after the first dose, as this is what builds the optimum amount of immunity, and raises the efficacy of the vaccine itself.
The Sinopharm vaccine was initially not administered to people under the age of 18, but many countries have started the vaccine trials for children too. The elderly and healthcare workers have the most priority when it comes to receiving the vaccine.
Despite receiving the vaccine, you must still maintain social distancing and other safety measures that will help curb the transmission of COVID-19.