On August 31, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) passed emergency use authorization of Moderna and Pfizer formulations in response to the Omicron variant of COVID-19. While the current global incidence of coronavirus cases is low relative to the peaks seen earlier in the pandemic, it is still important to stay vigilant and take necessary precautions. With mask mandates being lifted across schools and workplaces, COVID-19 may be spread among individuals more easily, especially if social distancing measures are not being followed.
A notable difference with the Omicron boosters is the lack of clinical trials before administration, though this is a similar approach to the FDA’s flu shot authorizations. Since COVID-19 mRNA vaccines have been safely administered to over 262 million individuals in the United States, there is confidence in the safety of the new booster shots. The FDA approved the vaccine for its use in the early weeks of September, and the Biden Administration has acquired 171 million doses that are now available to the public. Experts urge everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible since the boosters take two weeks to reach full effect.
Pfizer and Moderna have also appealed to the FDA to be able to administer the booster shots to people 12 years and older. The Omicron variant is known for its high transmissibility along with its potential to reinfect individuals that have previously contracted COVID-19. Omicron has been reported to have cold-like symptoms or symptoms similar to seasonal allergies, causing those infected to inadvertently spread their illness and unknowingly infect others under the pretense that it is a common cold.
The boosters are bivalent, meaning that they target both the original SARS-CoV-2 virus as well as the Omicron variant. The initial testing for the Omicron boosters was conducted on mice since the new formulas are derivatives of the original and therefore don’t require human trials, saving time before the virus further mutates. Although concern about the efficiency of the tests being unreliable has arisen, Dr. Peter Marks, the Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research at the FDA, spoke to the safety and effectiveness of the booster. Dr. Marks reported that compared to the original shots, the new vaccine should be about 20 times more effective at protecting against Omicron.
Mass vaccination sites are winding down their operations, leaving it up to individuals to locate and schedule appointments. Diminished vaccine initiatives may exclude those without cell phones or reliable internet access. Additionally, many people around the country are feeling “vaccine fatigue” with the overwhelming number of vaccinations that have been recommended in the past year and are opting to pass up the Omicron booster in the hopes that prior immunity will be enough. As schools and workplaces cease mask mandates, it is important to continue receiving updated vaccinations to keep communities safe. Without the boosters, new variants may emerge with no measures in place to protect against resurgences. It is clear that the administration of Omicron boosters is vital to the health and safety of the general public.
Authors: Sejal Sekhar, Divya Srinivasan, Tejas Sekhar
Cited Articles:
https://usafacts.org/visualizations/covid-vaccine-tracker-states
https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2022/07/29/biden-harris-administration-secures-66-million-doses-modernas-variant-specific-covid-19-vaccine-booster-for-potential-use-in-fall-winter-2022.html
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/omicron-targeting-covid-boosters-expected-this-week-but-experts-are-worried-there-may-be-low-uptake-11661783409
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/08/30/1120023656/the-fda-is-expected-to-authorize-a-new-covid-booster-that-targets-omicron
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/18/us/covid-vaccine.html