Topline
Moderna’s updated Covid vaccine provokes a “strong immune response” against fast-spreading coronavirus variants “Pirola,” “Fornax” and “Eris,” the company said Wednesday, amid a late summer wave of infections across the country and as governments prepare to launch fall booster campaigns.
Moderna’s updated vaccine provoked a strong response against “Pirola,” the company said.
Key Facts
Moderna said early data from its clinical trial found the updated shot prompted an 8.7-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies against the circulating BA.2.86 variant, also called “Pirola.”
Neutralizing antibodies produced by the immune system target invading viruses like the coronavirus and can stop them from replicating and higher amounts in the blood in the trial suggest there is some greater degree of protection against infection or severe disease.
The finding adds to earlier data from the company suggesting a similarly strong response—between 8.7 and 11-fold increase in neutralizing antibodies—against several other circulating variants, including EG.5 (“Eris”) and FL.1.5.1(“Fornax”).
Moderna president Stephen Hoge said the “data confirm that our updated Covid-19 vaccine will continue to be an important tool for protection as we head into the fall vaccination season,” adding that the company will continue to rapidly assess and respond to emerging health threats around the world.
Moderna said it has shared its data with regulators and is “ready to supply” the updated shot when it gets the green light from regulators.
News Peg
Despite its diminishing public profile, Covid is still very much a pressing and immediate danger to health. The fast-evolving nature of the virus means it can quickly move around existing defenses and annual booster campaigns in line with viruses like influenza, or flu, could be needed to protect against new variants. Despite the need for boosters, vaccination still slashes the risk of infection, serious illness and death and studies have repeatedly found unvaccinated people to be at far greater risk of poor outcomes or death from the virus. While precise tracking has become harder in recent months, data suggests cases and hospitalizations across the U.S. have risen in recent weeks. The emergence and spread of new variants like Pirola have concerned scientists, who fear the highly mutated strain could trigger a new wave of cases, and some countries like the U.K. have accelerated planned booster programs to hopefully stave off the threat.
Surprising Fact
The arm you get your booster shot in can make a difference in the immune response your body mounts, recent research suggests. The immune response appears to be stronger if the new shot is given in the same arm that received the last Covid shot, researchers found. The research relied on a small sample size and cannot definitively claim receiving a shot in the same arm impacts long-term protection, though it’s a solid foundation for future research.
Further Reading
Jill Biden Tests Positive For Covid As President Prepares For G20 Trip (Forbes)
New Covid Boosters Expected This Fall: Why Some Doctors Suggest Holding Off On Getting Your Next Booster Until Then (Forbes)