November 7, 2022: If you’re one of the 92% of Americans who haven’t yet gained a COVID-19 booster, here’s some news to consider. The updated Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine triggers a more potent immune reaction than a fourth dose of its original vaccine, the company says.
This evidence supports obtaining this specific recall from Omicron ahead of a potential COVID-19 outbreak this winter.
The bivalent vaccine provides coverage in other people over age 55. One month after receiving a booster, other people in this age organization had 4 times more neutralizing antibodies opposed to the Omicron BA. 4 and BA. 5 subvariants than other people who won the original vaccine as a booster.
The researchers neutralized antibody levels before and after withdrawal in other aging organizations. They found that levels were thirteen times higher in the other 36 people in the study over the age of 55 and nearly 10 times in the other 38 people between the ages of 18 and 55. By contrast, higher grades three times in the organization of another 40 people who received the original vaccine as a booster.
The bivalent product consists of two vaccine strains: one opposed to the original COVID-19 virus and one opposed to the Omicron subvariants.
The recently published data are “very encouraging and consistent now with 3 studies, all of which show a really extensive point of neutralizing antibodies 3 to 4 times higher than BA. 5 for the original booster,” says Eric Topol, MD, director of the Scripps Research. Translational Institute in La Jolla, California, and editor-in-chief of Medscape, WebMD’s sister site.
Pfizer/BioNTech announced the updated effects in a Nov. 4 press release.
The bivalent vaccine is legal for emergency use in others five years of age or older. CDC data this week shows that 8. 4% of eligible Americans received the bivalent vaccine. The company also estimates that about 2,500 Americans die from COVID each. week.
The protection profile of the Pfizer/BioNTech bivalent booster remains favorable to that of the original COVID-19 vaccine, the company says.
Until recently, the BA. 5 Omicron variant was the dominant strain in the United States, but is now displaced by the BQ. 1. 1, BQ. 1, and BA. 4. 6 subvariants, which in combination account for only about 45% of the circulating virus. . .
A bit of skepticism
“It should be noted that this knowledge is at the press release level, which does not allow for a view of the totality of knowledge,” says Hana El Sahly, MD, professor of molecular virology and microbiology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.
“For example, there would possibly be significant differences between the groups, and the statement mentions at least one difference that is important: the period since the last vaccination, which affects the reaction to the next boosters,” he says. The effects are not surprising, says El Sahly.
“In the short term, a variant-specific vaccine produces a higher point of antibodies opposite to the variant in the vaccine than vaccines in ancestral strains. “
More search effects are warranted.
“This knowledge implies that these differences between the two vaccines translate into significant clinical advantages at the population level,” El Sahly said.
A winter ahead
“As we approach the holiday season, we hope this updated knowledge will inspire others to seek bivalent COVID-19 reinforcement as soon as they are eligible for the higher levels of coverage compared to widely disseminated Omicron BA. 4 and BA. . 5,” Albert Bourla, Pfizer’s lead chief executive officer, said in the press release.
The updated data from the Pfizer/BioNTech study is “another explanation for why buying a booster, with more coverage also against BQ. 1. 1, which will soon dominate in the U. S. “”It’s the U. S. ,” Topol says.
It’s unclear when the next outbreak will occur, as COVID-19 is not following a seasonal trend, at least not yet, says El Sahly.
“In any case, it is moderate to offer more doses of the vaccine to immunocompromised, frail or elderly people. Most importantly, flu vaccination and pneumococcal vaccine updates are highly as soon as possible, given that flu season is early and intense. “
SOURCES:
Pfizer Inc.
Eric Topol, MD, director of the Scripps Translational Research Institute, La Jolla, California; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape.
Hana El Sahly, MD, Professor of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.
© 2005 – 2022 WebMD LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD provides medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
See more information.