Moderna Monday announced that it has given a third dose to its mRNA vaccine for Covid-19, which appears to offer significant protection against the Omicron variant.

The company stated however that they will continue to work on an omicron specific booster candidate, and clinical trials should begin in 2022.

Modern claimed that the booster currently approved by it can boost neutralizing antibodies levels up to 37 times higher than their pre-boost levels. This was described as encouraging.

However, it also said that a double doze of the booster shot — 100 micrograms, rather than the approved 50 micrograms — was significantly more effective. According to preliminary data, a 100-microgram booster dose raised neutralizing antibodies levels by “approximately 83%,” it stated in the release.

Moderna claimed that 100 mg of the dose was safe, but there were more adverse reactions with 100 mg than 50.

The vaccine, mRNA-1273 by the company, is not effective against fast-spreading Omicron variants. It generates low neutralizing antibody, which the company claimed.

These data have not yet been peer reviewed.

This comes at a time when the World Health Organization is warning that Omicron cases could double in 1.5 to 3 days for areas with local spread. In the UK, the number of cases per day rose to its highest level since the outbreak. The Netherlands also imposed an extended lockdown that lasted into the New Year.