Pfizer and BioNTech announced the launch of a clinical study of a modified vaccination against covid-19 that could protect against the coronavirus’s omicron form on Tuesday.
According to the firms’ statement, preliminary findings from the study, which will include 1,420 participants aged 18 to 55, are expected to be released in the first half of this year.
“We continue to maintain an open communication with health authorities about an updated vaccine and ongoing data from the currently available vaccine, including what the authorities require,” Pfizer wrote in an email.
At this moment, it is unclear what information authorities such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would want in order to authorise a specialised vaccine against the Omicron variety.
According to the companies’ report, volunteers will be divided into three groups: those who have been fully vaccinated, those who have received full vaccination and a booster, and those who have not been vaccinated, which will determine whether they receive one, two, or three doses of the modified vaccine.
Last Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released fresh research findings indicating that a booster shot of existing vaccines provides protection against the more severe Omicron disease, the form that accounts for nearly all new cases in the United States.
With over 70 million illnesses and over 865,000 fatalities, the United States is the country hardest devastated by the epidemic. In 2022, the pharmaceutical business intends to generate 4 billion doses of its COVID-19 vaccine.