The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended the approval of a vaccine against the coronavirus from the American manufacturer Moderna, which has been adapted for the two latest versions of Omicron.
The reformulated vaccine “Spikevax” (Spikevax) is effective against the original strain of the coronavirus, as well as against the two sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5, the regulator announced. So far, three coronavirus vaccines adapted for variants of the virus have been approved in the EU – two from Biotech/Pfizer and one from Moderna.
EMA experts recommend the modified vaccine as a booster to provide protection against the virus for people over 12 years of age.
This will be Moderna’s second adapted vaccine, following the approval in September of a vaccine targeting the original strain and Omicron’s earlier BA.1 subvariant.
According to the EMA, the EU wants to have a wide range of adapted vaccines to deal with different variants of the coronavirus to give countries more options for their vaccination programs, writes the German news agency DPA
Overall, however, in the EU, interest in fourth and fifth boosters with the new adapted vaccines is lower than in the initial vaccination last year. According to data from the European Health Agency (ECDC), only 7.6% of the European population has a second booster installed.
