Publications by Rana Mekdashi

Publications by authors named "Rana Mekdashi"

Vaccine

November 2021

- The effectiveness of the BBIBP-CorV COVID-19 vaccine is low in populations that received two doses, prompting interest in alternative vaccination strategies.
- A study at Makassed General Hospital tested the safety and effectiveness of a BNT162b2 booster dose for individuals who had completed the BBIBP-CorV regimen, finding higher antibody levels and good tolerability with heterologous vaccination.
- Mixing the BBIBP-CorV and BNT162b2 vaccines shows promise for enhancing immunity in areas lacking access to mRNA vaccines, potentially offering better protection against new variants.

- Rana Mekdashi's research primarily focuses on the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines, particularly the BNT162b2 booster in individuals previously vaccinated with BBIBP-CorV.
- The pilot study conducted in Lebanon revealed that the BBIBP-CorV vaccine had low effectiveness, leading to an investigation into heterologous vaccination strategies that could enhance immune responses.
- Findings indicated that a combination of BBIBP-CorV followed by BNT162b2 vaccination produced better immunogenicity compared to receiving two doses of the same BBIBP-CorV vaccine, suggesting promising avenues for vaccine regimen optimization.