As per reliable sources, Moderna Inc. announced that its modified COVID-19 vaccine induces a potent immune response against the Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 which have recently spread throughout the United States.
Additionally, the biotech major expressed optimism that its bivalent vaccine, which is intended to combat two different variants of COVID-19, will be approved as a booster shot in the U.S. soon. the vaccine is designed to counter both the original Coronavirus variant of 2020 and the Omicron strain from the last winter.
As per the results from the latest clinical trial, the booster shot elicited a lesser reaction against the omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5 than it does against the BA.1. Additionally, the new injection may provide durable protection against the whole family of Omicron variants.
It is worth mentioning here that before receiving regulatory permissions, the pharmaceutical behemoth has begun producing the new COVID-19 vaccine at its own expense. According to CEO Stephane Bancel of Moderna, the booster shot might start dispensing in the U.S. in August this year.
Meanwhile, in the upcoming weeks, the company aims to approach regulators for permission to use the shot, which it refers to as mRNA-1273.214, for the fall season.
More than a third of cases in the United States last week was attributed to the two sublineages, which were classified as variants of concern by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control as well as added to the WHO's monitoring list in March.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is soon planning a meeting with independent specialists to discuss the optimum formulation of booster injections before the official launch.
Additionally, Pfizer and BioNTech are evaluating several potential COVID-19 variant-adapted vaccines, including a bivalent contender that is comparable to Moderna's. Although the businesses have not yet provided any information on the efficacy of their products, the European Medicines Agency however has begun the examination of their prospects.
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