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We may not need Omicron vaccine, but having it will be prudent: Fauci

Pfizer, BioNTech commence trials of jab that targets the Omicron variant

pfizer vaccine ap Representational image | AP

Dr Anthony Fauci, the chief medical adviser to the US president, on Tuesday highlighted the importance of having a Covid vaccine specifically meant for the Omicron variant.

His comments came after Pfizer and BioNTech announced on Tuesday that they had commenced clinical trials of a new vaccine that targets the Omicron variant.

Fauci told MSNBC on Tuesday “It makes sense to think in terms of at least having ready an Omicron specific boost... We may not need it...  but I think it's prudent to at least prepare for the possibility that this may be a persistent variant that we may have to face—even if it's at a very low level.”

Fauci cautioned that it was unlikely that Covid would be eradicated though he hoped that 'community immunity' would be built up to prevent massive surges.

Clinical trials

The BBC reported Pfizer and BioNTech “plan to test the protection gained from the new vaccine as a booster jab and as three separate jabs in unvaccinated people”.

“One group will be comprised of those who initially received the two primary doses of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine three to six months ago. The second group will include those who initially received the two-dose vaccination and a third booster dose three to six months ago. People who have never received any vaccine against COVID-19 will make up the third group,” The Hill reported.

The BBC reported over 1,400 adults could be enrolled in the clinical trials that would likely be held in the US.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla had previously said an Omicron-specific vaccine was likely to be ready by March.

Moderna is planning to commence clinical trials of its own Omicron-specific vaccine, while Oxford University and AstraZeneca are also working on a new version of their vaccine.

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