Moderna has released promising data on a next-generation COVID vaccine. According to early clinical data, this vaccine produces 1.75 times the level of omicron-specific antibodies, compared to the current Moderna vaccine. Moderna says the formula could be ready to use by the fall season. Here in Taiwan, doctors are urging the government to plan ahead, so that it’s able to secure a supply.
In Taiwan, the first-dose vaccination rate is above 90%, while second- and third-dose rates are 82% and 66%, respectively. So far, vaccines have provided only limited protection against the omicron variant. But that could be about to change, with Moderna’s announcement of a next-generation “bivalent” vaccine. The clinical data is promising, and the vaccine could be ready by fall.
Lee Chien-chang
NTU Hospital physician
The level of neutralizing antibodies it produced – the level of omicron-specific neutralizing antibodies it produced – was 1.75 times greater. This is very good news. I think that we should plan ahead, as early as possible. Let’s start discussing a fourth dose.
Moderna’s vaccine is described as bivalent because it has two targets: omicron and the original COVID strain. In clinical trials, subjects who received a bivalent booster had eight times more omicron-specific antibodies, compared to subjects who had not received any booster. Compared to subjects who received four shots of the original Moderna vaccine, subjects who received a fourth shot of the bivalent booster had 1.75 times more omicron-specific antibodies. The preliminary data is positive, and more good news is expected soon from Pfizer, which is also developing a next-generation vaccine.
Huang Li-min
NTU Children’s Hospital superintendent
The developer’s initial output may be limited. If we want to get a hold of the second-generation vaccine by the end of the year, we have to plan ahead and buy early. That’s something the CECC has to consider.
Taiwan is still in the midst of an omicron wave. If viral infections continue into flu season, hospitalizations could rise this fall and winter. According to a U.K. study, 3.3% of 212,000 hospitalized COVID patients had also contracted influenza. These patients were more than four times more likely to need a respirator. They were 2.4 times as likely to die during hospitalization.
Lee Chien-chang
NTU Hospital physician
Regarding fourth doses – if we have enough vaccines, I think that we can start rolling out fourth doses to more people. Today, more and more medical staff are getting infected. I think that we can start administering fourth doses to this group. That’s something we can prepare for in advance.
Taiwan has enough flu vaccines and antivirals, but it may not be able to buy next-generation COVID vaccines right away. If flu season coincides with reopened borders and new COVID variants, the country could be in for a major test, doctors say.
