Emma Farge, Mrinalika and Emma Roy

(Reuters] – On Tuesday, the World Health Organization indicated that further research would be needed to establish if COVID-19 vaccinations offer adequate protection against Omicron variant, which is highly contagious. This will also help manufacturers create new vaccines.

Global health agency’s most recent technical brief addresses some big questions that remain about this highly-mutated variant, including its severity, transmission and ability to evade vaccinations. It also sets priorities for its members.

The U.N. agency didn’t have an answer to the question of whether Omicron-specific vaccinations were needed right now.

It stated that further research was needed in order to understand Omicron’s immunity escape potential to vaccination- or infection-induced immunity and Omicron-specific reactions to vaccines.

A WHO official previously stated that the issue needed “global coordination” so it shouldn’t have been left to individual manufacturers.

Some vaccine companies are working on next-generation vaccines that target the highly contagious variant found in South Africa and Hong Kong.

The Monday Pfizer (NYSE:) Albert Bourla, Chief Executive of the company, stated that a modified COVID-19 vaccine specifically targeting Omicron coronavirus would be necessary and could launch one by March.

Rival Moderna (NASDAQ:) Inc also works on a vaccine candidate that targets the Omicron coronavirus variant. However, it’s unlikely that the vaccine candidate will be ready in the next 2 months.

According to a WHO spokesperson, the WHO said that in recent weeks, a WHO technical committee has been discussing vaccine composition and will likely make another statement Tuesday.

WHO stated in a statement that additional data regarding vaccine effectiveness against Omicron will become available over the coming weeks.

The UN urged all countries and their partners to examine the effectiveness of vaccines and assess their impact.

Although early data suggested that Omicron vaccine effectiveness is higher than Delta due to homologous boosters, one study found that Omicron boosters were less effective in symptomatic Omicron disease.

An analysis by the UK Health Security Agency revealed that booster shots provide excellent protection for seniors against Omicron Coronavirus variant disease. But, the protection against mild symptomatic infections is shorter-lasting and falls to 30% in three months.