How Moderna booster jab could smash Omicron variant
Pharmaceutical giant Moderna confirms it is working on an Omicron-specific booster shot as its current jab’s effectiveness against the variant is revealed.
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A person jabbed with Moderna’s booster shot will have significantly increased protection against the Omicron variant than someone who has only received two doses of the vaccine, data has revealed.
The current Moderna booster dose, a single 50 microgram shot, has shown to increase Omicron neutralising antibody levels by 37-fold.
A larger 100 microgram booster dose, which is now being evaluated by Moderna for possible future rollout, would increase a recipient’s Omicron neutralising antibody levels by 83-fold, the biotechnology company said.
As the global battle against the highly transmissible variant continues, Moderna said it would continue to advance an Omicron-specific booster shot to clinical trials in early 2022.
“The dramatic increase in Covid-19 cases from the Omicron variant is concerning to all,” Stephane Bancel, chief executive officer of Moderna, said.
“However, these data showing that the currently authorised Moderna Covid-19 booster can boost neutralising antibody levels 37-fold higher than pre-boost levels are reassuring.
“To respond to this highly transmissible variant, Moderna will continue to rapidly advance
an Omicron-specific booster candidate into clinical testing in case it becomes necessary in the future.
“We will also continue to generate and share data across our booster strategies with public health authorities to help them make evidence-based decisions on the best vaccination strategies against SARS-CoV-2.”
Booster doses are available to Australians aged 18 and over who have had both doses of their primary course of a Covid-19 vaccine at least five months ago.
The Moderna data comes a week after the announcement of the three-way partnership between the pharmaceutical giant and the Victorian and federal governments, which will see up to 100 million vaccines produced each year to protect Australia against future pandemics and flus.
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