Moderna says it's working on Covid booster shot for variant in South Africa, says current vaccine provides some protection

:smiley:
Moderna said Monday it’s accelerating work on a Covid-19 booster shot to guard against the recently discovered variant in South Africa.

Its researchers said its current coronavirus vaccine appears to work against the two highly transmissible strains found in the U.K. and South Africa, although it looks like it may be less effective against the latter.

The two-dose vaccine produced an antibody response against multiple variants, including B.1.1.7 and B.1.351, which were first identified in the U.K. and South Africa, respectively, according to a Moderna study conducted in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The study has not yet been peer reviewed.

The vaccine generated a weaker immune response against the South African strain, but the antibodies remained above levels that are expected to be protective against the virus, the company said, adding the findings may suggest “a potential risk of earlier waning of immunity to the new B.1.351 strains.”

“Out of an abundance of caution and leveraging the flexibility of our mRNA platform, we are advancing an emerging variant booster candidate against the variant first identified in the Republic of South Africa into the clinic to determine if it will be more effective to boost titers against this and potentially future variants,” Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said in a statement.

Shares of Moderna were up nearly 4% in premarket trading after the announcement.

On Thursday, White House health advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said new data showed that the Covid-19 vaccines currently on the market may not be as effective in guarding against new, more contagious strains of the coronavirus. Some early findings that were published in the preprint server bioRxiv indicate that the South Africa variant can evade the antibodies provided by some coronavirus treatments.

The Food and Drug Administration authorized Moderna’s vaccine for people who are 18 years old and older in December.

Moderna’s vaccine, like Pfizer’s, uses messenger RNA, or mRNA, technology. It’s a new approach to vaccines that uses genetic material to provoke an immune response. Late-stage clinical trial data published inNovember shows Moderna’s vaccine is more than 94% effective in preventing Covid, is safe and appears to fend off severe disease. To achieve maximum effectiveness, the vaccine requires two doses taken four weeks apart.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/moderna-says-its-working-on-covid-booster-shot-for-variant-in-south-africa-says-current-vaccine-provides-some-protection/ar-BB1d4GQC?li=BBnb7Kz

I thought the U.K one was worse than the S A virus…

There’s new evidence which shows that the UK variant not only spreads easier, but it’s also more deadly than the original version. The SA variant is worse than the UK one because the current vaccines do not provide sufficient immunity, that’s why a booster shot will be required.

You see where this is headed?

Thank science

Do you want to start another conspiracy theory? I thought a health professional you would be first to guard against non-evidence based arguments!

Are you afraid to think for yourself? Why won’t you first complete your thought process instead of attacking me?

A thought process devoid of logic or evidence will only lead to dangerous conspiracy theories. Did you comprehend what I previously highlighted? If not ask

You don’t even understand the science only quick to silence and label others as conspiracists out of misplaced sense of moral superiority. I will not debate you any further.

I don’t understand science!!! Ad hominem

That was not a debate, I was trying to educate you. Given a chance I would have helped u make sense of survival analysis concepts, epidemiology, more narrowly, clinical trials

She is best ignored.

You’re extremely toxic. I’ve noticed every thread I post you must make sarcastic comments. Why can’t you just move along? It says a lot about your nature.

But I haven’t stopped you from educating others. Perhaps other people can benefit so type away…!

Why do people here get all weird on every little thing I say? I could write about the most silly thing, like the price of tea in Laos on Tuesdays and it’s a problem. Lol. What’s the secret to having few or no comments? People write a lot of BS over here, constantly talking crap all day and no one takes an issue. I make one thread or comment and it blows up!! I don’t get it. At best I would like my comments to evoke neutral emotions. At worst, no emotions at all.

You as a MoD labelled me a LIAR. I came across another thread where you insinuated that I did not know the late Amused…it was brought to my attention by a few folk here. I know the man from RCBowen days, his handle was Kalvin and for you just for you we were friends. Soooo pot calling kettle black? This year kindly refrain from commenting about me.

I have never labeled you anything. You’re unhinged and I think it’s best to keep your lane moving forward. I don’t want.
After you demanded that Nefertities refund you the 3k and the whole thing blew up in your face, you remember very well asking for admin to delete your handle. Then why call me all hysterical at 4am as I’m peacefully sleeping and rant with a long as.s text threatening to sue me and the entire admin for not deleting your handle? No sooner had you requested to be deleted from ktalk, I go to approve new handles and you’re there asking why the mods aren’t approving your posts under this new handle. “Don’t you guys want me back?” you said. So you threaten us with a lawsuit and less than 24 hours later, you demand your posts to be approved. Which is which? You also keep saying that your friend is working on a new website and you’re gonna leave. It’s been over a year of threats and sarcastic comments. Why would you want to sue me? That’s what I’ve never understood. Don’t bother explaining.

:D:D:D:D:D

You are lying and you know it. Wacha nikuache…hehehehehehe wacha kwanza nicheke coz I don’t even know where to start. I have never posted don’t you guys want me back and all that rubbish…woman hehehehehehe. Not here to drive traffic.
Lay off my handle is all I ask. Bye. So you truly own this forum? confirm yes or no. Now.
Also I won’t be around to nurse your loss of TRUMP. Bless you. Jipe shughuli. Actually if I dissect your post you will be v embarrassed but I now know you are dying for traffic. Yangu haupati. Ng’oooooooooo.

Mama wa randan na mama wa daras in a bish fight, this is interesting.

One at a time