> Moderna is developing a range of bivalent Covid-19 shots. In April, it touted a bivalent shot targeting the Alpha and Beta variants. By June, Moderna’s strategy shifted to a bivalent shot that specifically targets the original Omicron variant. But the Omicron strains that swept the US in early 2022 are quickly being supplanted by new subvariants (including BA.4 and BA.5). It is entirely possible that any reformulated shot, by the time it gets to market, will be a poor match for this rapidly evolving virus. Rather than solving the pandemic, this approach might accelerate the evolution of variants that evade vaccines. Furthermore, by skipping clinical trials, no one will have any idea whether these reformulated shots are safe.
In other words, rapidly mutating viruses are not good candidates for vaccination approach.
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[ 3.2 ms ] story [ 17.7 ms ] threadIn other words, rapidly mutating viruses are not good candidates for vaccination approach.