The United Kingdom, the first country in the world to approve a vaccine against the new coronavirus at the end of 2020, has now also given the first green light for immunity adapted to confront a variant, which targets both the original version of the virus. Micron strain.
On Monday (15), the British Medicines Regulatory Authority (MHRA) granted conditional approval to the so-called bivalent vaccine, made by the American laboratory Moderna, as a booster for adults.
The British Joint Committee on Immunization and Immunization (JCVI) is expected to issue a recommendation soon on how to roll out the vaccine in the country.
The MHRA’s decision was based on clinical trial data, which showed the booster elicited a “strong immune response” against Omicron (BA.1) and the original 2020 virus, according to the document.
In June, Moderna said trial data showed that when given as a fourth dose, the variable-modified vaccine increased antiviral antibodies against Micron by eightfold.
The regulator also cited an exploratory analysis concluding that the vaccine elicited a “good immune response” against the currently prevalent micron branches, BA.4 and BA.5.
According to Moderna, test data revealed that the dose-matched booster for the variant generated levels of antibodies against the sub-variants that were 1.69 times higher than those who received the original booster.
MHRA added that no serious safety concerns were identified with Moderna’s new formula.
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Amelia Kensington is a contributor to Mediarunsearch.co.uk, covering a wide range of topics including news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on delivering clear, balanced reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current events and emerging developments. Her work highlights stories that matter to everyday audiences, presenting complex topics in an accessible and engaging way while maintaining a strong commitment to accuracy and relevance.