(VOVWORLD) - People at high risk of severe disease who have yet to get a second COVID-19 booster should not wait for next-generation, Omicron-targeted vaccines expected in the fall, according to vaccine experts.
 Illustrative photo. (Source: AFP/VNA) |
As the virus evolves, it is not known what version will be widely circulating in the fall or whether new vaccines – expected to target BA.4/5 in the US and BA.1 in Europe – will be a good match.
In the US, regulators have asked Pfizer with partner BioNTech and Moderna to develop vaccine boosters that target both the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron cousins, as well as the original virus. It is expected that the vaccines could be ready for use in October.
With the rising number of cases of COVID-19 while immunity fades over time, experts say the best option for those at high risk is to get the existing vaccine.