Canada finally approves distribution of Moderna's updated Covid-19 booster vaccination in an effort to further protect Canadians against stronger, newer Covid variants.
The Updated Moderna Covid-19 Booster Vaccine
Earlier this year, Tech Times first reported that the updated Moderna COVID-19 Omicron vaccine's delivery date is in the works. The health-tech company stated that the revised drug will be available in the autumn. After discovering that the extremely infectious Omicron strain will infect the new version, Moderna validated this distribution strategy.
The pharmaceutical firm said that the updated Moderna booster vaccine formulation, specifically targeting the Omicron strain, is more successful than standard vaccination boosters.
"These results really give us hope," stated Moderna Vice President Dr. Jacqueline Miller.
Experiments at the health firm revealed that the new vaccination would be a bivalent variant of the original Moderna medication. As per all experts involved, the new vaccination would give a greater fight against Delta and Omicron strains, as well as older COVID-19 variants.
This information was disclosed following the volunteers' vaccinations. Participants who got the new Moderna Omicron vaccination produced about twice as many antibodies as those who received the older vaccines. Countries are keen to administer the vaccines as soon as possible in order to avert another outbreak.
Also Read: Updated Moderna COVID-19 Omicron Vaccine Distribution Date Now Confirmed
Canada Approves Updated Moderna Covid-19 Booster Vaccine
The new COVID-19 vaccination boosters were first authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August, as reported by Tech Times. The new vaccination boosters are designed to target the BA.5 omicron subvariant specifically.
However, the FDA adopted a contentious technique to examine the boosters, testing them on mice rather than humans for the first time. One of the reasons other countries were hesitant to follow.
But in a recent development story, Moderna's updated COVID-19 booster vaccine was finally approved by Health Canada. The new bivalent injection, which targets the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 subvariants, is intended to serve as a booster dosage for anyone aged 18 and over.
For a bit of a background, Pfizer-bivalent BioNTech's booster was approved by Health Canada on October 7 for persons aged 12 and above. It also targets the subvariants Omicron BA.4 and BA.5.
This decision comes two months after Health Canada approved Moderna's bivalent booster, which targeted both the Omicron BA.1 subvariant and the original strain.
According to Checknews Canada, a bivalent booster induces "a significant immune response" against both contemporary Omicron subvariants as well as the initial SARS-CoV-2 virus strains. Additionally, according to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, the main strains in circulation are Omicron BA.4 and BA.5.
Because they include numerous critical changes from the original SARS-CoV-2 virus, NACI highly advises bivalent boosters that target Omicron.
The problem is that most people, besides Canadians, are wary of adding another Moderna booster. However, the FDA warned that the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccinations deteriorates with time. As shown by new research, this is more common in the elderly and the immunocompromised.
To ensure that the efficacy of the original immunization booster doses is maintained, it is now strongly advised that an updated booster dosage be used.
Related Article: FDA Approves Moderna, Pfizer 2nd Vaccine Booster Shots for Over-50s People as New Findings Show Waning Efficacy
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Written by Thea Felicity
