SINGAPORE – The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has approved Moderna’s updated Covid-19 vaccine to protect against existing Omicron subvariants of the virus.
HSA said on Friday (Oct. 13) that it had reviewed data that looked like the updated vaccine could stimulate the immune reaction against the primary Omicron variants that are spreading recently, adding XBB. 1. 5, EG. 5 (Eris) and BA. 2. 86. emergent.
The updated Spikevax vaccine can be used in people six months of age and older.
It comes as Singapore is going through a new wave of Covid-19 infection, with estimated cases rising from around 1,000 four weeks ago to more than 2,000 in the past three weeks.
The Spikevax vaccine update works with the original vaccine and includes a monovalent component that matches the Omicron XBB. 1. 5 variant. It has the same quality, safety, and efficacy, and HSA expects the updated vaccine to “retain the favorable benefit-risk ratio. “balance” of the original vaccine.
This is the time when the updated Covid-19 vaccine is legal through HSA following the approval of Pfizer’s updated Comirnaty vaccine on Sept. 12. Stocks are expected to arrive by the end of October.
The HSA said regular updating of approved Covid-19 vaccines is necessary to ensure the continued efficacy of the vaccine, similar to the method adopted for seasonal flu vaccines, which are updated every six months.
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This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission is required for reproduction.