This is what the company announced today after laboratory studies that included serum samples of vaccinators * Moderna will make changes to the vaccine so that it will also protect those infected with the new variants
Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine retains neutralizing activity against variants originating in the UK and South Africa. This is according to the notice published by the company to the stock exchange and the public.
The results were obtained in laboratory studies in serum taken from the bodies of individuals who were vaccinated with Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine. Administering two 19 microgram doses of Moderna's COVID-100 vaccine is expected to protect against all strains discovered so far, albeit to varying degrees.
In the study, no significant effect was found on the effect of the antibodies against the B.1.1.7 variant (which was discovered for the first time in the UK). As for the B.1.351 variant (which was first discovered in South Africa), although the neutralizing antibody effect of the vaccine is 6 times weaker compared to previous variants, it remains at levels higher than those considered protective.
However, in order to take an extra precaution, Moderna is launching a clinical trial program to increase immunity against new variants. The company will test the effects of an additional vaccine dose (mRNA-1273) to investigate the ability to further increase the neutralizing antibody effect against new strains. The company promotes a product to boost immunity against variant B.1.351 (mRNA-1273.351).
"As part of our efforts to defeat the COVID-19 virus, which has caused a global pandemic, we believe it is necessary to act while the virus is evolving. We are encouraged by the new information, which strengthens our confidence that Moderna's vaccine against COVID-19 will protect against the newly discovered variants," said Moderna CEO Stephan Bansel.
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Just pointing out that a better illustration image could have been chosen.
Not one that shows a corona virus inside a double helix. (DNA)
Inside the envelope of the corona there is RNA which, as we know, does not come as a double helix