Moderna is studying the use of a third dose of the variant vaccine
To avoid the possibility of reduced efficacy against new coronavirus variants, Moderna will test the effects of a third dose
(photo: Hakan Nural / Unsplash) Moderna announced that, according to the results of its test, its mRna-1273 vaccine against Covid-19 stimulates the production of antibodies capable of neutralizing even the mutated variants of the coronavirus identified for the first time in England and South Africa. But perhaps something more is needed: a third dose could increase its effectiveness.Now available as a preprint on bioRxiv: mRNA-1273 vaccine induces neutralizing antibodies against spike mutants from global SARS-CoV-2 variants. Read more here: https://t.co/4SY6xxNx8B
- Moderna (@moderna_tx) January 25, 2021
Effective, but how much?
The results of the Moderna study, available in preprint on bioRxive, indicate that its vaccine produces neutralizing antibodies against the coronavirus variants identified today.“Vaccination with the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine has produced neutralizing securities against all major emerging variants tested, including B.1.1.7 and B.1.351, identified for the first time in the UK and Republic of South Africa, respectively, ”the press release read. “The study did not show any significant impact on neutralizing titers against variant B.1.1.7 compared to previous variants. A sixfold reduction in neutralizing titers was observed with variant B.1.351 compared to the previous variants ".
There is therefore the possibility - the company admits - that with respect to variant B.1.351 ( South African) the effectiveness in the prevention of moderate and severe forms of Covid-19 is lower, around 70-80% (compared to 95% attested for the original coronavirus) - a percentage, however, high.
