Pfizer, Moderna Omicron Vaccines In The Works: Are They Needed?

ACROSS AMERICA — Both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are working on COVID-19 vaccines targeting the highly contagious omicron coronavirus variant, even if it remains unclear if a fourth shot will be needed or how it would be distributed.

Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla said Monday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” the omicron-specific vaccine — already being tested in trials and manufactured to have on hand for countries that want it — also targets other variants of the coronavirus. He expects it to be widely available in March.

“The hope is that we will achieve something that will have way, way better protection particularly against infections, because the protection against the hospitalizations and the severe disease — it is reasonable right now, with the current vaccines as long as you are having, let's say, the third dose,” Bourla said.

Moderna’s omicron booster should be in clinical trials “very soon,” CEO Stéphane Bancel told CNBC. He said Moderna is talking with world leaders about a fall distribution of a potential omicron-specific booster.

A World Health Organization technical group of independent experts said Tuesday that COVID-19 vaccines should be updated to protect against omicron and future variants, Reuters reported.

“The composition of current COVID-19 vaccines may need to be updated to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines continue to provide WHO-recommended levels of protection against infection and disease by VOCs (variants of concern), including Omicron and future variants,” the technical body, which makes recommendations to the WHO, said in a statement.

“COVID-19 vaccines need to … elicit immune responses that are broad, strong, and long-lasting in order to reduce the need for successive booster doses,” the group added.

Research shows both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are better than the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at preventing breakthrough infections, but all three reduce hospitalizations and death.

The current COVID-19 booster shots adequately protect against the omicron, especially against severe illnesses, hospitalizations and death, but with record hospitalizations, say they’ll continue to work on boosters targeting specific variants in case they’re needed.

However, a study from the United Kingdom showed the effectiveness of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines wanes over time, according to the CNBC report. The study by the U.K. Health Security Agency showed the vaccines were only 10 percent effective at preventing symptomatic omicron coronavirus illnesses 20 weeks after the second shot.

Booster shots increased effectiveness by up to 75 percent, according to the study.

The fourth dose of the omicron-specific vaccine Pfizer developed with its German partner BioNTech is showing promise in Israel, where it was given to people 60 and older with compromised immune systems and health care workers. Their coronavirus antibodies increased fivefold a week after getting the shot, CNBC reported.