This data has been updated to match the BA.4 and BA.5 versions of the Omicron variant, and the bivalent booster shots that began rolling out in September may offer protection against novel coronavirus variants. It’s reassuring because it shows what you’re delivering before. A sharp increase in cases in winter.
Moderna also found that antibodies generated by bivalent boosters lost some potency against the challenging and rapidly growing BQ.1.1 subvariant, although preliminary analyzes in a small number of subjects showed that BQ.1.1 accounts for about a quarter of U.S. cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Evolution is a risky bet to take,” said Stephen Hoge, president of Moderna. He added that he was encouraged by
“I think we’re optimistic that this BA.4/BA.5 containing bivalent compound will do just fine,” said Hoge.
Moderna’s announcement is intriguing Scientists are thinking about future booster strategies as the makers of both messenger RNA coronavirus vaccines have presented converging results showing that the bivalent shots provoke stronger responses than the original formulations.
But with these original boosters no longer available, the news is an artificial comparison to the general public. It was done in the summer to ensure sufficient supplies to vaccinate.
that too It is unclear whether the data will help increase public interest in boosters.In the US he is only about 10% of people over the age of 5 According to CDC data,
To measure the booster effect, scientists compared virus-blocking antibodies in the blood of 511 people before and after bivalent or original boosters. What this type of laboratory experiment cannot predict is how much, or for how long, higher antibody levels will protect people from infections and serious illness. expects the booster to help protect against the worst consequences, but it doesn’t offer strong protection against infection.
Moderna reported that its bivalent booster produced five to six times the level of antibodies compared to the old booster. This is a stronger advantage than her previous bivalent booster effect, which was tuned to combat the BA.1 variant. But some scientists question whether differences between the two groups of people who received each type of injection may be responsible for some of the benefits. .
In contrast, Novavax, a latecomer to the vaccine race, presented data last week suggesting that SCHOTT’s bivalent booster containing the Omicron BA.1 subvariant is no more advantageous than the original booster.
The company did not provide data on bivalent vaccines containing BA.4/BA.5, but claimed that the original shot could still provide protection in lieu of updating the formula. It is unclear why you are getting different results. Novavax’s chief medical officer, Filip Dubovsky, said last week that the company’s shots could provoke a wide range of reactions to variants, which could then be strengthened by repeated boosts of older formulations. rice field. Unlike the widely used Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna messenger RNA vaccines, the Novavax shot is a protein-based vaccine with added substances called adjuvants designed to activate the immune system.
Novavax says it can update shots as required by regulators.
“We are ready to respond if necessary,” said Dubovsky. “But really, I think sticking with what we have now and what seems to work now is the way to the future.”
