Several vaccine manufacturers are racing to develop formulas that take into account the more infectious Omicron variant now driving cases, while policymakers are laying the groundwork for another large-scale vaccine blitz.
Much of this hinges on expectations that a so-called bivalent shot can blunt a potential future surge as flu season sets in, and alleviate pressure on a strained health-care system.The National Advisory Committee on Immunization last week released interim guidelines for a fall program it said was most important for older adults and those at increased risk of severe COVID-19.
"With flu, we do three or four different variants. It's just a mixture and the RNA vaccines are very easy to mix and match. In theory, we could have 10 ," says Watts.IS FALL TOO LATE FOR AN OMICRON VACCINE? "If we have in this vaccine representation from very different strains, or different variants, then we can assume that we get broad protection also then against future variants," he says.
He suspects they'll behave much the same way as current COVID-19 shots: induced antibodies will decay over time and people may be infected again.WHEN WILL THEY ARRIVE? "Vaccines are mostly now administered in traditional venues like primary care clinics and public health clinics and pharmacies. So it's probably going to be a very busy time."
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