Animal study suggests Omicron-specific COVID booster not needed
DOERS/iStock via Getty Images


A recent animal study indicates that an Omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccine booster does not provide any better protection than a booster of an existing vaccine.
The study, published as a preprint on bioRxiv and yet to be peer reviewed, examined the Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) original vaccine and an Omicron-specific one in development. The vaccines were given to primates.

Results showed that increases in antibody levels against Omicron were similar in both vaccine types.
The study specifically looked at protection against COVID in the lungs.
Although the study only examined Moderna's vaccine, the Pfizer (NYSE:PFE)/BioNTech (NASDAQ:BNTX) vaccine is also an mRNA vaccine.
"An Omicron boost may not provide greater immunity or protection compared to a boost with the current mRNA-1273 vaccine," researchers concluded.
On Friday, Moderna's COVID vaccine won a full approval endorsement from the CDC.