Omikron variant: Biontech boss Uğur Şahin considers the new corona vaccine to be necessary

Enlarge image

"Variant may be able to infect vaccinated people":

Biontech boss Şahin sees new dangers from the Omikron variant

Photo: Ralph Orlowski / REUTERS

Biontech boss

(56)

assumes the need for a new Covid-19 vaccine in view of the strongly mutated omicron variant.

"I basically believe that we will need a new vaccine against this new variant from a certain point in time," said Şahin on Friday at the "Reuters Next" conference.

The question is how urgently this is needed.

Şahin expects Omikron to develop as an antibody escape variant.

"This means that this variant may be able to infect people who have been vaccinated."

This also applies to those who have recovered.

In the case of escape mutations, the original virus has changed in such a way that it can partially escape the immune response of convalescent or vaccinated persons.

The fact that viruses mutate is well known and, according to Şahin, not surprising.

However, the pace surprised him.

"This highly mutated virus came earlier than I expected. I was expecting it sometime next year and it's already with us."

Two facts are still valid: Vaccinations protect against serious Covid diseases.

And Biontech could adjust its vaccine relatively quickly if necessary, Şahin affirmed.

This was not yet necessary for the delta variant.

The Omikron variant, which was first discovered in South Africa and now in numerous other countries, has triggered alarms around the world. Scientists were particularly concerned about the high number of mutations in the virus' spike protein and are working flat out to assess the risk. The EU health authority ECDC expects that Omikron will soon be the predominant variant in Europe. The World Health Organization (WHO) calls on vaccine manufacturers to adapt their vaccines against the Omikron variant.

Özlem Türeci

(54), head of medicine and co-founder of Biontech, said it was not yet clear how contagious the Omikron variant could be.

"We have to learn that over time, and over time I really mean on the daily, weekly horizon and experts watch it closely."

Şahin was confident that people who had already received their third vaccination would be adequately protected - possibly not only against severe courses, but against any kind of disease for a certain period of time.

However, the probability is increasing that, as with the flu, annual corona vaccinations may be required.

The virus mutates faster.

In those who have not been vaccinated, the course could even be more severe than at present.

Şahin told Reuters earlier this week that he expected more clarity about the effectiveness of the existing vaccines after the evaluation of laboratory tests in around two weeks.

However, he is assuming that the existing Covid-19 vaccine from the company and its US partner Pfizer will also offer significant protection against serious illnesses with the new Omikron variant.

cr / Reuters