- It is estimated that the immunizations applied since the end of 2020 have helped prevent more than 20 million deaths worldwide.
- One of the characteristics of viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 is that they tend to mutate.
- Until now, the bivalent vaccine against Ómicron has not been authorized by Cofepris for its application in Mexico.
Over the past few weeks the term “bivalent vaccine against Omicron”. It is one of the most advanced versions of the immunization created to deal with Covid-19. In fact, it could be one of the keys to avoiding an increase in infections during the winter season. But before moving forward it is necessary to understand the basics.
As we have already learned over the last couple of years, variants of covid-19 They are something to look forward to. Fortunately, the mRNA technology has made it possible to respond to new variants of the virus, as has happened with Omicron which so far is the most contagious in the world.
The evidence of this can be seen with the updated versions of the vaccines of Pfizer and Moderna that are specifically directed against the Omicron variant. Both have already been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“The Ómicron BA.5 strain is currently the dominant one. The updated vaccines are specially designed to create immunity against this particular variant, thereby reducing the severity of symptoms and the possibility of severe illness from COVID-19,” says Dr. H. Dirk Sostman, Chief Academic Officer, Hospital Houston. Methodist.
What are the differences between the original and updated vaccines?
The FDA has been very insistent on calling these vaccines “updated” and not “new” and there is an important reason for this. They are different from the originals by a simple but powerful difference.
The updated vaccines use the same technology as those that currently exist. That is, they work in the same way and the only difference is that they now contain two RNA molecules instead of just one.
It should be remembered that both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are vaccines with mRNA technology. This means that they use pieces of the mRNA to train our immune system to recognize the virus’s proteins, particularly the spike proteins on its surface. This helps the body mount an immune response more quickly and effectively in the event of a Covid-19 infection.
“In addition to containing a part of the mRNA code for the spike protein of the virus, the updated vaccines additionally have a second piece of mRNA specifically from the Omicron BA.4/BA.5 variants. It is a small adjustment from a technological point of view, but a powerful advance in the sense of how this updated vaccine can increase the immune response against the specific variants that are currently circulating.”
Therefore, either of the two receives the name of bivalent vaccine against Omicron. They have the characteristic that they are aimed at both the original strain and the variant that predominates in the world today.
How effective is this updated booster against Omicron?
Based on scientific evidence, it is expected that bivalent boosters of Covid-19 vaccines increase protection against the Omicron variant. Human research studies with this booster continue. And while the effectiveness of these boosters in “the real world” is not yet known with certainty, there is no doubt about their safety.
“The United States FDA authorities have carried out all the tests and studies to ensure that the updated vaccines are at the level of rigor in terms of safety, effectiveness and production and quality standards that said regulatory agency requires for the approval of use. emergency in the United States.
As with influenza, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has also proven to be capable of change, and just as with influenza vaccines, it is highly likely that with Covid-19, vaccines will also adapt to the dominant variant. that is circulating
Who can receive the booster of the bivalent vaccine against Ómicron?
The bivalent Covid-19 boosters are authorized as a single dose in persons who have completed their first vaccination series. Also for those who, in addition, have already put on one or more reinforcements.
While people who have received the booster dose a few months or have recently been infected, they still have to wait to receive it. Unfortunately, this version is currently only available in a very few countries. In the case of Mexico the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) has not yet authorized it.
Also read:
This is the first approved bivalent vaccine against the Omicron Variant
WHO recommends NOT to use this drug against the Omicron Variant
Subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 arrive in Mexico: These are their symptoms