Moderna aims for fall release of COVID-19 Omicron vaccine
Global News
Before Omicron came along, Moderna was studying a combination shot that added protection against an earlier COVID-19 variant named Beta.
Moderna hopes to offer updated COVID-19 boosters in the fall that combine its original vaccine with protection against the Omicron variant. On Tuesday, it reported a preliminary hint that such an approach might work.
Today’s COVID-19 vaccines all are based on the original version of COVID-19. But the virus continues to mutate, with the super-contagious Omicron variant – and its siblings – the latest threat.
Before Omicron came along, Moderna was studying a combination shot that added protection against an earlier variant named Beta.
Tuesday, the company said people given that Beta-original vaccine combination produced more antibodies capable of fighting several variants – including Omicron – than today’s regular booster triggers.
While the antibody increase was modest, Moderna’s goal is to produce a combination shot that specifically targets Omicron.
“These results really give us hope” that next step will work even better, said Dr. Jacqueline Miller, a Moderna vice president.
Tuesday’s data was reported online and hasn’t been vetted by independent experts.
COVID-19 vaccines still are providing strong protection against severe disease, hospitalization and death, even against Omicron.
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