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| Photo Credit: AP. |
US Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer announced Saturday that tweaking its COVID-19 vaccine could boost immunity against the omicron variant, adding that it is safe, The Associated Press reports.
The current
vaccines produced by Pfizer and other rivals such as Moderna are still very
effective in dealing with the virus especially for people who had taken the
booster shot. However, earlier vaccines only targeted the original coronavirus
strain and are not effective in dealing with the highly contagious omicron
variant.
Regulators
are due to debate whether or not to offer Americans updated booster shots this
fall.
The
Associated Press reported that Pfizer and its partner BioNTech studied two
different ways of updating their shots – targeting just omicron, or a
combination booster that adds omicron protection to the original vaccine. They
have also tested whether to keep today’s standard dosage -30 micrograms – or to
double the shot’s strength.
Pfizer also
reportedly said that booster approaches could led to improved omicron-fighting
antibodies in a study of more than 1,200 middle-aged and older adults who have
already had three vaccine doses.
“Based on these data, we believe we have two
very strong omicron-adapted candidates,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a
statement, according to The Associated Press.
Preliminary
lab studies show the tweaked shots also produce antibodies capable of fighting
omicron’s genetically distinct relatives named BA.4 and BA.5 even though the
levels weren’t as high as expected, according to The Associated Press.
In a similar
vein, Moderna said combination boosters could also improve the body’s immune
fighting capability against the omicron strain, following tests.
On Tuesday
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) scientific advisers will publicly debate
whether to recommend additional booster shots.