Moderna’s omicron vaccine booster didn’t protect any better than the normal vaccine in a small study

On this March 29, 2021, file photograph, a employee readies syringes with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine in Metairie, La.

Gerald Herbert, Related Press

An omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccine didn't supply higher safety towards the omicron variant in comparison with Moderna’s presently, highly-effective booster shot, in line with a brand new research from researchers on the Nationwide Institutes of Well being.

• The research — which was posted on a preprint server forward of peer overview — analyzed the consequences of Moderna’s omicron-specific vaccine on a small group of monkeys.

What they discovered: “The nonhuman primate (NHP) mannequin has ... been largely predictive for what has been noticed in people by way of protecting efficacy,” the authors wrote, in line with Ars Technica.

• The researchers discovered boosting monkeys with both the omicron-specific vaccine or the conventional booster shot led to the identical improve in antibodies.
• “And, when the vaccinated and boosted monkeys have been challenged with an omicron an infection, each boosters protected the primates equally effectively from illness of their decrease airways,” in line with Ars Technica.
• Scientists count on this discovering to carry up in human trials.

Why this issues: This early consequence needs to be an indication of what’s to come back when Moderna begins to check its omicron-specific vaccine on people.

The larger image: A latest research from Duke College discovered that the Moderna COVID-19 booster shot created omicron-fighting antibodies that lasted for about six months earlier than reducing, an indication that the immunity to omicron might solely final for half of a yr.

• “The drop in antibodies for the booster is similar to the drop in antibodies to the delta variant that was famous six months after the second dose of the vaccine,” mentioned co-corresponding creator and researcher David Montefiori, in line with WRAL.