COVID-19 vaccine appears to be effective against new variants: Moderna
"A two-dose regimen of the COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be protective against emerging strains," Moderna Inc said in a statement on Monday. The company will also test a vaccine booster against the South Africa variant in pre-clinical trials to see if that would be more effective in boosting antibodies against the variant and other future variants.
- World
- Reuters
- Published Date: 05:03 | 25 January 2021
- Modified Date: 05:10 | 25 January 2021
Moderna Inc said on Monday its COVID-19 vaccine produced virus-neutralizing antibodies in laboratory tests against new coronavirus variants found in the UK and South Africa.
A two-dose regimen of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be protective against emerging strains detected to date, the company said.
Moderna, however, said it would test a vaccine booster against the South Africa variant in pre-clinical trials to see if that would be more effective in boosting antibodies against the variant and other future variants.
Although all viruses mutate constantly, scientists are concerned about the mutations discovered in Britain and South Africa because they are believed to be capable of altering key functions of the virus.
- Brazil has 627 new COVID-19 deaths and 26,816 new cases, health ministry says
- U.S. House to deliver Trump charge to Senate, triggering impeachment trial
- U.S. new COVID cases down 21% in past week, deaths fall from peak
- US welcomes restart of Turkish-Greek exploratory talks
- Biden will keep all options on table with Russia's handling of Navalny -press secretary