Moderna and Pfizer working on vaccine targeting omikron variant | Abroad

A number of clinical trials with the booster vaccine will start soon, according to Moderna. “We have to try to get ahead of the virus,” CEO Bancel told business channel CNBC. Moderna’s current booster dose, which is half a dose, increases the number of antibodies by 37 times. A full dose increases the effectiveness by a hundred times, it sounds.

The CEO of Pfizer says that the production of the vaccine has already started. “I don’t know if it will be necessary. I don’t know if it will be used, but we will be ready,” Albert Bourla told CNBC. He does state that studies are still needed to see whether a fourth dose of the vaccine is needed.

Read more below the video: WHO warns: “Don’t call omikron mild”

Omikron is more contagious than the delta variant. As a result, many people have to be quarantined, which leads to staff shortages. Those who have been vaccinated run a lower risk of becoming seriously ill with omikron.

Moderna has already signed 18.5 billion dollars (16.4 billion euros) in contracts with the United Kingdom, South Korea and Switzerland for when the new booster dose is available. The biggest challenge is getting the vaccine to less developed countries, CEO Bancel acknowledges. Of the 807 million doses of vaccines delivered, barely 25 percent went to less developed countries. Moderna is also looking to expand mRNA technology to treat other diseases, the company said.

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