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The pharmaceutical company Moderna announced on Monday that the boosting dose of its COVID-19 vaccine appears to offer protection against the rapidly spreading Omicron variant.
Moderna said laboratory evidence shows that half the booster dose increases by 37 times the level of so-called neutralizing antibodies, capable of fighting Omicron. A full booster dose was even stronger, causing an 83-fold increase in antibody levels, albeit with an increase in common side effects, the company announced.
For most doses of Moderna vaccine boosters, half-dose injections are being given. But for people with weak immune systems, a third full-dose injection is recommended.
Moderna announced the preliminary laboratory data in a press release. They have not yet undergone a scientific review. But the evidence conducted by the National Institutes of Health, published last week by Dr. Anthony Fauci, come to a similar conclusion.
Pfizer also found that its COVID-19 vaccine promotes a similar, large increase in the level of antibodies that fight Omicron. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, both made with mRNA technology, are used by many countries around the world to fight the coronavirus.
Trials conducted by these companies support the growing approach of health authorities for people to take booster doses.
Antibody levels predict how effective a vaccine may be in preventing coronavirus infection, but vaccines are only one layer of protection for the immune system. Other studies suggest that vaccines can still provide good protection against severe forms of the disease if people are affected by a new infection.
Both Moderna and Pfizer are working to produce doses that would be best suited to the Omicron variant, if needed.voa
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