Moderna Inc. said its COVID-19 vaccine that targets omicron generated a “superior” immune response against the variant compared to its original shot in a widely awaited study that could pave the way for another round of boosters in the fall.
The trial is one of the first to examine whether omicron-specific immunizations may offer better protection against the strain currently driving outbreaks worldwide. With the virus mutating rapidly, medical experts are trying to decide when and how to modify vaccines to best thwart existing and future variants. Unlike with influenza, there’s no established system yet in place to determine how often COVID vaccines should be updated or administered.
Moderna plans to submit the data to drug regulators in the coming weeks, the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company said in a statement. The magnitude of the antibody increases produced by the booster suggests that COVID shots would not have to be given more than once a year, Moderna Chief Medical Officer Paul Burton said.
