Moderna CEO says it will take months to clear a new Covid vaccine targeting omicron
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Dr. Immanuel Hartmann holds the Moderna vaccine in a temporary immunization center at the Excursion ship Alexander von Humboldt. It was the first day in #HierWirdGeimpft’s (Get Vaccinated Here), Covid-19 vaccination campaign in Berlin on September 13th, 2021.
Carsten Koall | Getty Images News | Getty Images
ModernaStephane Bancel CEO, Monday stated it will take many months to produce and ship a vaccine against the specific omicron strain of the virus responsible for Covid-19.
A 100-microgram booster dose could still be available from the company sooner.
Bancel stated that while the higher dosage could be obtained immediately, it would take months for an omicron-specific variant to be ready to ship in large quantities.
Bancel indicated that Moderna believes the Omicron Variant is very infectious. But, it will take at most two weeks to determine how the mutations affect the effectiveness of current vaccines.
He said that depending on its drop, it might be decided on one hand to administer a higher dose to people around the globe to protect them, or maybe to people who are at high risk. The immunocomprised and elderly may need to receive a fourth dose.
In a technical paper, published by the World Health Organization on Sunday, omicron contains more than 30 mutations in its spike protein, which binds with human cells. The paper states that these mutations may lead to increased transmission and possibly reduced antibody protection.
Omicron was identified for the first time in South Africa’s Gauteng Province, where Johannesburg is situated. Bancel said that this variant was already being spread worldwide. Bancel pointed out flights arriving in A.mAmsterdam from South AfricaFriday’s test resulted in 61 positive tests for Covid among 624 passengers. The Dutch National Institute for Public Health reports that at least 13 people are now infected. Health officials continue to test samples to confirm the infection.
Bancel stated that he also believes it to be present in many countries. I believe that most countries who have flown direct from South Africa within the past seven to ten days have known cases that may be hidden in their own country.
American citizens who traveled to South Africa, seven countries within the same region as South Africa in the previous 14 days are prohibited from entering the country. Similar restrictions on travel have been implemented in the United Kingdom and European Union.
This variant has scared global markets with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 905 points (or 2.53%) on Friday, its worst day of 2014.
This is an ongoing story. Stay tuned for new updates.
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