Moderna booster shot increases antibody levels against omicron, company says

(CNN) — Biotechnology company Moderna announced Monday that preliminary information suggests its half-dose booster changeable accrued antibody levels against omicron compared with the levels seen erstwhile a afloat vaccinated idiosyncratic does not person a booster — and a larger-sized dose of the booster increases antibody levels adjacent more.

Currently, Moderna’s booster is administered arsenic a 50-microgram dose. The institution announcement noted that its 50-microgram booster dose accrued antibody levels 37-fold and a 100-microgram booster dose accrued antibody levels 83-fold compared with levels seen earlier a booster. It remains unclear what these increases mean arsenic acold arsenic however good the booster doses clinically enactment against omicron.

But successful the company’s statement, CEO Stéphane Bancel called the information “reassuring.”

“The melodramatic summation successful COVID-19 cases from the Omicron variant is concerning to all. However, these information showing that the presently authorized Moderna COVID-19 booster tin boost neutralizing antibody levels 37-fold higher than pre-boost levels are reassuring,” Bancel said successful the announcement.

“To respond to this highly transmissible variant, Moderna volition proceed to rapidly beforehand an Omicron-specific booster campaigner into objective investigating successful lawsuit it becomes indispensable successful the future. We volition besides proceed to make and stock information crossed our booster strategies with nationalist wellness authorities to assistance them marque evidence-based decisions connected the champion vaccination strategies against SARS-CoV-2.”

SARS-CoV-2 is the sanction of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, astir 32% of afloat vaccinated adults person received a booster dose truthful far. Separately, Moderna and different vaccine makers person said that they are moving connected variant-specific booster shots arsenic well.

COVID-19 booster shots tin assistance amended extortion against the Omicron coronavirus variant and determination is nary request for a variant-specific booster dose astatine this time, Dr. Anthony Fauci, manager of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said during a virtual White House briefing on Wednesday.

“A fig of studies person been done passim the state and the satellite to instrumentality a look astatine however we mightiness hole successful the discourse of vaccinations,” Fauci said.

“The connection remains clear: If you are unvaccinated, get vaccinated,” added Fauci, the main aesculapian advisor to President Biden. “And peculiarly successful the arena of omicron, if you are afloat vaccinated, get your booster shot.”