First vaccine to target Omicron and the original Covid strain gets green light in UK

THE FIRST Covid vaccine that targets the Omicron variant has been approved by UK drug regulators.

Millions of Brits will receive it next month after the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency gave the green light to use Moderna's updated jab as a booster shot.

Scientists say it will improve immunity because half the vaccine targets the original coronavirus strain and the other half targets Omicron.

Omicron has been dominant in the UK since December 2021.

There have been various strains of the super-infectious bug, including BA.1 (December/January) and BA.2 (spring).

Currently BA.4 and BA.5 are dominant, causing some 4,000 cases per day.

Although not an exact match to the current variants, the new vaccine is close enough to give a “significantly higher” immune response, Moderna said.

The MHRA said that a clinical trial showed boosting with the bivalent Moderna vaccine triggered a strong immune response against BA.4 and BA.5 as well as against BA.1 and the original strain.

The NHS will now use it for the autumn booster rollout, which will begin in just two weeks’ time.

All over-50s and high-risk groups – a total of 26million people – will be offered a top-up ahead of winter.

Omicron-specific jabs will be given out as standard, with regulators also reviewing a new version of the Pfizer vaccine, while the originals are available as a back-up.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said: “Vaccines remain our best defence against Covid and this safe and effective vaccine will broaden immunity and potentially improve protection against variants as we learn to live with this virus.”

Dr Mary Ramsay, of the UK Health Security Agency, added: “Although cases of Covid-19 are relatively low now, we are expecting to see it circulating more widely during the winter months.

“By taking up the booster vaccine this autumn you will increase your protection.”

The antibody boost is expected to further reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death – plus offer better protection against transmission.

It may also build defences ahead of future variants if they have similar mutations to Omicron.

Dr June Raine, CEO of the MHRA, said: “This bivalent vaccine gives us a sharpened tool in our armoury to help protect us against this disease as the virus continues to evolve.”

The boosters until this point have offered protection against severe illness and death against Omicron, but not so much infection.

Data from the Government showed a booster shot was 95 per cent effective against Omicron death.

But against infection, effectiveness was 63-70 per cent, and significantly less after only two doses.

Fortunately, studies have suggested that Omicron itself is a more mild strain and people have suffered more cold-like illness when infected. 

Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed said that the Commission on Human Medicines, which he chairs, "independently reviewed the data on safety, quality and effectiveness and agrees with the MHRA’s decision".

“The virus, SARS-CoV-2, is continually evolving in order to evade the immunity provided by vaccines," he said.

“This novel bivalent vaccine represents the next step in the development of vaccines to combat the virus, with its ability to lead to a broader immune response than the original vaccine.”

Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, said: “We are delighted with the MHRA’s authorisation of our next-generation Covid-19 vaccine. 

“This further highlights the dedication and leadership of the UK public health authorities in helping to end the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This bivalent vaccine has an important role to play in protecting people in the UK from Covid-19 as we enter the winter months.”