Severe Cases and Deaths Continue to Rise... When Will There Be a Vaccine That Can Tackle the Omicron Variant?

COVID-19 Pandemic Led by 'Omicron Variant'
Moderna and Pfizer Launch Updated Vaccines
BA.5-Specific Vaccine Also Released in October

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Despite a decrease in the number of new COVID-19 cases, the continued rise in critically ill patients and deaths has increased interest in vaccines targeting the Omicron variant of COVID-19. American pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Pfizer have already released vaccines effective against both the original COVID-19 strain and Omicron, and a targeted vaccine for the Omicron subvariant BA.5, which became the dominant strain in October, is scheduled for release.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of midnight on the 22nd, the number of new confirmed cases was 59,046, which is 3,012 fewer than the 62,058 cases reported a week earlier on the 15th.

However, the number of severe cases and deaths continues to rise. The number of critically ill patients was 551, 20 more than the previous day’s 531. COVID-19 deaths were also recorded at 65, one more than the previous day’s 64.

As the COVID-19 pandemic driven by Omicron and its subvariants continues, attention is focused on the introduction of vaccines targeting Omicron. In the UK, Moderna’s mRNA (messenger ribonucleic acid) vaccine 'Spikevax bivalent' has been conditionally approved for use as a booster shot for adults.

This vaccine was developed to simultaneously target the original COVID-19 virus and the Omicron subvariant 'BA.1,' but it has also shown effectiveness against BA.5, which has become the dominant strain domestically. Moderna measured neutralizing antibody responses one month after administering Spikevax bivalent as a fourth dose to participants who had completed three doses of the vaccine, showing a 6.3-fold increase in preventive effect against BA.4 and BA.5 compared to those with only three doses.

On the afternoon of the 1st of last month, when the 4th round of vaccinations began for pre-registered individuals in their 50s, a citizen visiting Bumin Hospital in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, received a vaccine shot.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Domestically, the review of the 'bivalent vaccine' has also begun. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety is conducting a product approval review for Moderna’s Spikevax bivalent and a preliminary review of clinical trial data for Pfizer’s 'Comirnaty bivalent 0.1 mg/mL.' Comirnaty bivalent is an mRNA multivalent vaccine expressing antigens for both the original coronavirus and BA.1, developed for additional booster doses.

The plan for introducing the improved vaccine is expected to be announced by the end of this month. At a regular briefing on the 16th, Baek Kyung-ran, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, stated, "A preliminary evaluation of Moderna’s bivalent vaccine is underway," adding, "Once the review application is submitted, we plan to announce the effectiveness, safety, quarantine situation, introduction schedule, and quantity of the improved vaccine comprehensively around the end of August."

Meanwhile, in the United States, a BA.5-targeted vaccine is expected to be released soon. Ashish Jha, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, appeared on NBC on the 18th (local time) and said, "The vaccine to be released in a few weeks is specifically designed to respond to the current virus."

It is anticipated that the vaccine will be introduced domestically in October. Lim Eum-gi, Head of the COVID-19 Vaccination Management Team, said at a regular briefing on the 18th of last month, "Vaccines based on BA.5 are being developed by Pfizer and Moderna," adding, "We will prepare and provide guidance on vaccination plans according to the progress."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.