Pfizer and BioNTech introduced right this moment that they’ve began testing an Omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccine in wholesome adults.
Whereas knowledge present that the present vaccine made by the businesses and permitted by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration continues to guard in opposition to extreme illness, the vaccine is much less efficient at stopping an infection with the virus. Research additionally present that the extent of immune cells generated by the vaccine wanes over time, which led the FDA to authorize a booster dose.
The fast dominance of the Omicron variant made clear the necessity to enhance the safety supplied by the prevailing vaccine, and the shot’s mRNA know-how allowed scientists to switch the genetic base of the vaccine to mirror the Omicron variant in solely about six weeks.
The brand new research will embrace greater than 1,400 individuals divided into three teams. One group contains individuals who have been vaccinated with two doses of the present vaccine and can obtain one or two doses of the brand new Omicron vaccine; one other group contains those that have been vaccinated and boosted with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and can obtain a fourth dose of the prevailing vaccine or a dose of the Omicron shot; the ultimate group contains unvaccinated individuals who will get three doses of the Omicron vaccine.
The info will permit researchers to match infections and signs amongst people who find themselves presently vaccinated and who get one dose or two doses of the Omicron shot to those that have been boosted with the present vaccine and obtain a dose of the Omicron vaccine. The info will assist scientists and public well being specialists to study extra about how useful variant-specific vaccines may be, and whether or not they are going to be essential going ahead.
