An updated version of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Moderna that targets two coronavirus variants has today been approved for adult booster doses by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Since it targets two variants, it is known as the “bivalent” vaccine. The UK is the first country to do so.
The ‘bivalent vaccine’, is made by US drug company Moderna
The decision to grant approval for this booster vaccine in the UK was endorsed by the government’s independent expert scientific advisory body, the Commission on Human Medicines. The move came after carefully reviewing the evidence.
The agency’s decision was based on clinical trial data that showed the booster triggered “a strong immune response” against both Omicron (BA.1) and the original virus variant. It also cites an exploratory analysis in which the dose was found to generate a good immune response against both Omicron offshoots BA.4 and BA.5. Both of these variants are currently dominant.
The statement issued by MHRA
“The first generation of COVID-19 vaccines being used in the UK continues to provide important protection against the disease and save lives,” MHRA Chief Executive June Raine said in the statement. “What this bivalent vaccination gives us is a sharpened tool in our armory to help protect us against this disease as the virus continues to evolve.”
“We have in place a comprehensive safety surveillance strategy for monitoring the safety of all UK-approved COVID-19 vaccines and this will include the vaccine approved today,” Raine added.
“The Commission on Human Medicines and its COVID-19 Vaccines Expert Working Group has independently reviewed the data on safety, quality, and effectiveness and agrees with the MHRA’s decision,” Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, Chair of the Commission on Human Medicines said. “The virus, SARS-CoV-2, is continually evolving in order to evade the immunity provided by vaccination. This novel bivalent vaccine represents the next step in the development of vaccines to combat the virus, with its ability to lead to a broader immune response than the original vaccine.”