Two Covid-19 vaccine producing companies began clinical tests last week on a new booster vaccine that gives specific protection against the invasive Omicron variant.
According to international media, Moderna Inc had started a ‘mid-stage study’ on Wednesday while rival Pfizer and its partner BioNTech began clinical trials on Tuesday on the new vaccine to fight the rapidly spreading Omicron.
Although studies show Omicron causes less severe symtoms than previous variants, it is more virulent and has already become the dominant variant in many parts of the world, straining healthcare systems worldwide.
Director, Allergy, Immunology and Cell Biology Unit of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Dr. Chandima Jeewandara said Omicron would soon be the dominant variant in Sri Lanka. Recent gene sequencing by Dr. Jeewandara’s unit, which was made public yesterday, found that of 88 samples collected (in the fourth week of January), 82 were positive for Omicron.
This variant accounts for 99.9%percent of the Covid-19 cases in the United States, the CNN reported, quoting US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Large population data shows that two doses of the vaccine plus a booster provides rigorous protection against severe disease, even against the Omicron variant,” CNN stated.
Further tests are being done to confirm the vaccine’s efficacy against Omicron. Experts agree that the protection by booster shots declines after about six months.