Coronavirus: When is the Omicron vaccine coming?

Created: 04/29/2022, 18:22

By: Kim Hornickel

A booster vaccination is still the most effective way of protecting against a corona infection.

But soon there will be improved vaccines.

(Iconic image) © Michael Bihlmayer/imago

Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna are competing to develop a new corona vaccine, and the Minister of Health has doubts about a quick solution.

Frankfurt – The omicron variant of the corona virus has caused the highest number of infections in Germany since the beginning of the pandemic.

The development of new corona vaccines is all the more important.

The competitors Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna have already started this, but until the immunization of the general population can begin, that does not only depend on the manufacturers, a company spokeswoman for Biontech/Pfizer explained to the mdr.

Studies required by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) are still pending.

The spokeswoman could not say when the vaccine, adapted to the Omicron variant, would be launched.

Nevertheless, Biontech is ready to "deliver the first doses immediately after approval".

Omicron vaccine urgently needed: Lauterbach expects release in September

The federal government is also hoping for a speedy release of the Omikron vaccine.

Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach warns that another wave of corona could break out in Germany as early as autumn.

In autumn and with increasing case numbers, Lauterbach not only wants to revise the Infection Protection Act.

The Minister of Health also promises: "We'll get a vaccine that protects against the omicron variants." He expects it in September, as Lauterbach told the "Bild am Sonntag".

A new vaccine adapted to the omicron virus mutation is needed in order to achieve the highest possible protective effect.

Because it continues to decrease, explained virologist Wolfgang Preiser.

“So far, the protective effect has decreased from variant to variant.

When we started with 70 to 80 percent, it went down to 60 to 70 percent and now with Omikron the protective effect should be significantly lower again," Preiser told the "Tagesspiegel".

Despite all the warnings, however, the vaccines currently in use are the best protection available, even against the omicron variant.

The virologist Christian Drosten promotes the booster vaccination in the podcast “Coronavirus-Update” on NDR-Info.

"What really protects against omicron is the triple vaccination," says Drosten.

New vaccine promises greater protection: Biontech has been researching since November

Biontech has been developing reliable protection against omicron and future mutations since November.

The biotechnology company has been testing the effectiveness of the new vaccine in a clinical study since the end of January.

However, the Biontech vaccine still has to go through a few steps before the vaccine can be delivered to doctors' surgeries.

Here is the overview.

• According to the Association of Research-Based Drug Manufacturers

  ,  the following steps are necessary

  for the development of an adapted vaccine  :

• Adaptation of the vaccine:

   In the case of Biontech/Pfizer, the RNA section that represents the building instructions for the spike protein is exchanged for a corresponding section for the spike protein of the new variant.

  
  

  Technical quality check:

   Here the vaccine is checked with regard to the concentration of the ingredients, purity and stability.

  
  

  Clinical studies:

   The variant vaccine will be compared to the original vaccine in two parallel studies with volunteers and has to perform better.

  
  

  Examination and approval:

   The manufacturer submits the application to the EMA, which can then approve it.

  Approval follows from the EU Commission.

  
  

  Production changeover:

   Large-scale production will be fully or partially converted to the variant vaccine.

The new vaccine is being tested for previously unvaccinated, already double-vaccinated and boosted people.

With the additional vaccination against corona mutations, the Federal Minister of Health expects a high level of protection against the feared “killer variant”, a highly contagious omicron variant that Lauterbach has repeatedly warned about.

(kh)