Pfizer: Early Trial Data Suggests Updated COVID-19 Booster Protects Against Omicron Subvariants BA.4, BA.5 | Health News

The updated COVID-19 booster shots from Pfizer showed a “substantial increase” in omicron-neutralizing antibodies, according to early trial data from the company….CONTINUE READING

Pfizer and its partner BioNTech reported

on Thursday that the shots elicit more antibodies that fight the omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 than the original coronavirus shot one week after the shots were administered. The shot was well tolerated with positive safety data similar to that of the original vaccine, according to Pfizer.

“While we expect more mature immune response data from the clinical trial of our Omicron BA.4/BA.5-adapted bivalent vaccine in the coming weeks, we are pleased to see encouraging responses just one week after vaccination in younger and older adults,” Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said in a statement. “These early data suggest that our bivalent vaccine is anticipated to provide better protection against currently circulating variants than the original vaccine and potentially help to curb future surges in cases this winter.”

The updated shots from Pfizer and Moderna were granted emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration in August before human trial data was available. The agency on Wednesday expanded the authorization to children as young as 5 years old.

The Biden administration has been pushing the updated shots ahead of an expected fall and winter COVID-19 surge. But fewer than 5% of the eligible population had gotten the booster by the end of last week, signaling that uptake of the vaccine could be an uphill battle.

Pfizer said that additional data on the shots measuring responses one month after administration is expected in the coming weeks….CONTINUE READING