INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Pfizer announced Saturday that tweaking its COVID-19 vaccine to better target the omicron variant is safe and works — just days before US
regulators debate whether to offer Americans updated booster shots this fall.The vaccines currently used in the US still offer strong
protection against severe COVID-19 disease and death — especially if people have gotten a booster dose, AP reported.But those vaccines
target the original coronavirus strain and their effectiveness against any infection dropped markedly when the super-contagious omicron
mutant emerged.Now with omicron&s even more transmissible relatives spreading widely, the US Food and Drug Administration is considering
ordering a recipe change for the vaccines made by both Pfizer and rival Moderna in hopes that modified boosters could better protect against
another COVID-19 surge expected this fall and winter.Pfizer and its partner BioNTech studied two different ways of updating their shots —
targeting just omicron, or a combination booster that adds omicron protection to the original vaccine
They also tested whether to keep today&s standard dosage — 30 micrograms — or to double the shots& strength.In a study of more than
1,200 middle-aged and older adults who&d already had three vaccine doses, Pfizer said both booster approaches spurred a substantial jump in
omicron-fighting antibodies.Based on these data, we believe we have two very strong omicron-adapted candidates,& Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla
said in a statement.Pfizer&s omicron-only booster sparked the strongest immune response against that variant.The post Pfizer says tweaked
COVID-19 shots boost omicron protection first appeared on Ariana News.
