Spikevax Bivalent Original/Omicron Booster Vaccine: First Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine receives MHRA approval  

Spikevax Bivalent Original/Omicron Booster Vaccine, the first bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine developed by Moderna has received MHRA approval. Unlike the Spikevax Original, the bivalent version targets both the original coronavirus variants from 2020 and the Omicron variant as well as the Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5 

This is an updated version of mRNA-1273 (Moderna Inc.’s mRNA Vaccine) that targets both the original coronavirus variants from 2020 and the Omicron variant. In each dose, half of the vaccine (25 micrograms) targets the original virus strain from 2020 and the other half (25 micrograms) targets Omicron. 

Clinical trial had shown that a booster with the bivalent vaccine triggers a strong immune response against both Omicron (BA.1) and the original 2020 strain. This was also found to generate a good immune response against the Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5. The side effects were typically mild and self-resolving, and no serious safety concerns were identified. 

This could be said to be the first in second generation of COVID-19 vaccines.

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Sources:  

1. HM Government Press release. First bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine approved by UK medicines regulator. Published 15 August 2022. Available at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/first-bivalent-covid-19-booster-vaccine-approved-by-uk-medicines-regulator 

2. HM Government Decision – Regulatory approval of Spikevax bivalent Original/Omicron booster vaccine. Published 15 August 2022. Available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/regulatory-approval-of-spikevax-bivalent-originalomicron-booster-vaccine 

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