Predictions of a fall wave of COVID-19 make another booster vaccine campaign likely, but there are many questions about how the virus will continue to evolve and what protections a new vaccine could offer.
Several vaccine makers are scrambling to develop formulas that take into account the more virulent Omicron variant now leading to outbreaks, while policymakers lay the groundwork for yet another large-scale vaccine.
Much of that hinges on expectations that a so-called bivalent vaccine can moderate a potential future surge as the flu season gets underway and ease the strain on a strained health care system.
Currently available vaccines for COVID-19 are univalent, meaning they are tailored exclusively to the original novel coronavirus.
The proposed bivalent vaccines target specific mutations in the spike protein seen in both the old strain and the newer Omicron strain, which has spawned several more virulent subvariants that dominate infections today.
Last week, the National Immunization Advisory Committee released interim guidelines for a fall schedule that it said were most important for the elderly and those at increased risk of severe COVID-19.
He also noted that while the vaccine’s protection against symptomatic disease wanes over time, protection against severe disease is better maintained.
In the United States, advisers to the Food and Drug Administration said last week that fall supplements should contain some version of the Omicron variant.
NACI stopped short of urging a specific lineup pending more data, but said a two-pronged shot could encourage fall recruitment.
title: “A Look At The Next Stage In The Fight Against Covid 19 Bivalent Vaccines "
ShowToc: true
date: “2022-12-10”
author: “Joey Warren”
Predictions of a fall wave of COVID-19 make another booster vaccine campaign likely, but there are many questions about how the virus will continue to evolve and what protections a new vaccine could offer.
Several vaccine makers are scrambling to develop formulas that take into account the more virulent Omicron variant now leading to outbreaks, while policymakers lay the groundwork for yet another large-scale vaccine.
Much of that hinges on expectations that a so-called bivalent vaccine can moderate a potential future surge as the flu season gets underway and ease the strain on a strained health care system.
Currently available vaccines for COVID-19 are univalent, meaning they are tailored exclusively to the original novel coronavirus.
The proposed bivalent vaccines target specific mutations in the spike protein seen in both the old strain and the newer Omicron strain, which has spawned several more virulent subvariants that dominate infections today.
Last week, the National Immunization Advisory Committee released interim guidelines for a fall schedule that it said were most important for the elderly and those at increased risk of severe COVID-19.
He also noted that while the vaccine’s protection against symptomatic disease wanes over time, protection against severe disease is better maintained.
In the United States, advisers to the Food and Drug Administration said last week that fall supplements should contain some version of the Omicron variant.
NACI stopped short of urging a specific lineup pending more data, but said a two-pronged shot could encourage fall recruitment.
