Booster Shots For mRNA Vaccines Likely Required Within Six Months To Protect Against Covid-19 Variants
William A. Haseltine
The majority of new infections in the US, Europe, and most other countries are now driven by variants. Until recently, the B.1.1.7 variant was the most dominant strain in the UK and throughout Europe and is prevalent in the United States as well. In South Africa the dominant strain is the B.1.351 variant; in South America, the P.1 variant. Now in India, three closely related strains, B.1.617.1, B.1.617.2, and B.1.617.3, are now running rampant. The B.1.617.2 variant has appeared in the UK as well. These variants of SARS-CoV-2 are highly transmissible, capable of reinfection, and cause more serious disease. They also introduce the distressing possibility that current generations of Covid-19 vaccines may not protect as well against these variants as they do original strains.
A new preprint study conducted by Moderna describes both the hope and challenge of booster vaccines as an approach to the solution to the problem of variants. Their booster shots appear to be effective at neutralizing at least two of the new variants, B.1.351 and P.1. But importantly, their preprint study also revealed the first-generation Moderna vaccine doesn?t protect against the variants for as long as we initially hoped.
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Notably, the B.1.617 variant wasn?t included in the new Moderna study. Compared to the B.1.351 and P.1 variants that were, B.1.617 is both more evolved and more dangerous. Whether it requires a homologous booster of its own remains to be seen. For now, we can at least take comfort in the fact that variant-proof booster shots are attainable, effective, and on their way.
To anyone who has already been fully immunized with the mRNA vaccines, either from Moderna or Pfizer, I recommend you note in your calendar when you received your second shot. Six months from then, it might be time for your booster. If you?ve had any other vaccine, the time window is likely shorter. At present we can?t say with certainty how much shorter. The safest bet, given our current understanding of vaccines and variants, is to plan for relatively frequent boosters for some time to come.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/willia...ct-against-covid-19-variants/?sh=c8ee402598b2
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Okieman Comment: A very good article. I highly recommend reading it in it's entirety.
William A. Haseltine
The majority of new infections in the US, Europe, and most other countries are now driven by variants. Until recently, the B.1.1.7 variant was the most dominant strain in the UK and throughout Europe and is prevalent in the United States as well. In South Africa the dominant strain is the B.1.351 variant; in South America, the P.1 variant. Now in India, three closely related strains, B.1.617.1, B.1.617.2, and B.1.617.3, are now running rampant. The B.1.617.2 variant has appeared in the UK as well. These variants of SARS-CoV-2 are highly transmissible, capable of reinfection, and cause more serious disease. They also introduce the distressing possibility that current generations of Covid-19 vaccines may not protect as well against these variants as they do original strains.
A new preprint study conducted by Moderna describes both the hope and challenge of booster vaccines as an approach to the solution to the problem of variants. Their booster shots appear to be effective at neutralizing at least two of the new variants, B.1.351 and P.1. But importantly, their preprint study also revealed the first-generation Moderna vaccine doesn?t protect against the variants for as long as we initially hoped.
snip
Notably, the B.1.617 variant wasn?t included in the new Moderna study. Compared to the B.1.351 and P.1 variants that were, B.1.617 is both more evolved and more dangerous. Whether it requires a homologous booster of its own remains to be seen. For now, we can at least take comfort in the fact that variant-proof booster shots are attainable, effective, and on their way.
To anyone who has already been fully immunized with the mRNA vaccines, either from Moderna or Pfizer, I recommend you note in your calendar when you received your second shot. Six months from then, it might be time for your booster. If you?ve had any other vaccine, the time window is likely shorter. At present we can?t say with certainty how much shorter. The safest bet, given our current understanding of vaccines and variants, is to plan for relatively frequent boosters for some time to come.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/willia...ct-against-covid-19-variants/?sh=c8ee402598b2
-------------------------------------
Okieman Comment: A very good article. I highly recommend reading it in it's entirety.