UK’s MHRA approved an updated version of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine booster jab that targets the Omicron variant and the original variant.
The United Kingdom (U.K.) has become the first country to approve an updated version of Moderna’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine booster jab that targets 2 variants of COVID-19 that includes the Omicron variant and the original variant.
The decision to grant approval to the vaccine was endorsed by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.
It was approved following the results of a clinical trial, where Moderna reported that its booster targeting Omicron showed a stronger immune response against the variant. The company said its updated booster also showed a “potent” response against the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants.
A Statement from U.K. Government read, “An updated version of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Moderna that targets two coronavirus variants (known as a “bivalent” vaccine) has today been approved for adult booster doses by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) after it was found to meet the UK regulator’s standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.”
Taking it to twitter, MHRA tweeted,
We are pleased to announce that we have approved the UK’s first bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine, made by @moderna_tx.
— MHRAgovuk (@MHRAgovuk) August 15, 2022
For more information see: https://t.co/MLXObQqyUt pic.twitter.com/VNelnGBfVD
The Moderna tweeted,
“We are delighted with the MHRA’s authorization of our next-generation COVID-19 vaccine.”
— Moderna (@moderna_tx) August 15, 2022
– Stéphane Bancel, Chief Executive Officer of Moderna pic.twitter.com/boJVR6zMYe
The mRNA-1273.214 is a bivalent #vaccine that contains mRNA-1273 and a vaccine candidate targeting the Omicron BA.1 variant. Study results show that it has demonstrated significantly higher antibody titers against Omicron BA.1 and BA.4/5 sub variants when compared with mRNA-1273. Half of the booster, called “Spikevax bivalent Original / Omicron” targets the original COVID-19 strain while the other half targets Omicron. MHRA said the side effects are the same as that of the original Moderna vaccine.
At a time when COVID-19 continues to mutate, the new Moderna booster will help keep communities protected. The vaccine is authorized for use in people aged 18 and over but, to prepare for an expected rise in cases over the winter, the U.K. plans to focus its booster programme on the over 50’s and those at higher clinical risk of developing severe COVID-19.
Moderna plans to deliver the vaccines in the next 2 weeks because it began manufacturing months before the authorisation. All of the remaining doses under its 29 million contract with the Government will now be of the Omicron-targeted jab.
Moderna is not the only vaccine who has updated its offering. Pfizer and BioNTech have also tested 2 COVID-19 vaccine boosters to target the Omicron variant. The companies said that preliminary results show a substantially higher immune response than the current COVID-19 shots.
