Moderna: Booster can help fend off omicron
A booster shot of the Moderna vaccine significantly raises the level of antibodies that can thwart the omicron variant, the company said Monday.
The news arrives as omicron advances across the world, and most coronavirus vaccines seem unable to stave off infection from the highly contagious variant.
Moderna’s results show that the currently authorized booster dose of 50 micrograms — half the dose given for primary immunization — increased the level of antibodies by 37 times, the company said. A full dose of 100 micrograms was even more powerful, raising antibody levels 83-fold compared with pre-boost levels, Moderna said.
Both doses produced side effects comparable to those seen after the two-dose primary series. But the dose of 100 micrograms showed slightly more frequent adverse reactions relative to the authorized 50-microgram dose.
The results are based on laboratory tests that do not capture the full range of the body’s immune response against the virus. Although vaccines may not prevent infection from the variant, they are expected to prevent severe illness in the vast majority of people.
The data have also not been published or reviewed by independent experts. Moderna said it was preparing a manuscript with the data that would be posted online.
Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Biontech announced this month that a booster shot of their vaccine also increased the level of antibodies against omicron.
Moderna said it will focus its near-term efforts on extra shots of the original vaccine. It also plans to test a booster that is specific to omicron early next year and to include omicron in a multivalent booster.