In September, the approval of a bivalent vaccine, which will cover the original strain of the coronavirus and the "Omicron" strain, is expected in Europe, the Associate Professor of Pharmacology and member of the National Vaccination Advisory Committee, Dr. Christos Petrou, who reports that it may be available for delivery in the last quarter of 2022.
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, Dr. Petrou reports that the need and optimal timing for further additional booster doses in autumn and winter with the adapted vaccine may vary from country to country, especially depending on the timing of the second booster doses in the spring and summer of 2022. as well as evidence of continued protection against severe disease in those who received the second booster dose.
Professor Petrou also notes that future vaccination strategies may vary depending on the availability of updated vaccines and their characteristics, adding that countries may need to use different types of vaccines, for different strategies and population groups, depending with the characteristics of updated vaccines compared to those of the first generation and of course depending on the emergence of new variants.
He also emphasizes that it is extremely important to give the 4th dose to people over 60 and the vulnerable, as determined, while underlining that "they should not be complacent while waiting for the new vaccines, whenever they become available".
Referring to the bivalent vaccine, manufactured by Moderna as a booster dose for adults and already approved in the UK, Mr Petrou said that this particular vaccine covers the original strain of the virus and the Omicron strain, while it appears to have satisfactory protection in "Omicron 4" and "Omicron 5".
Asked about the approval of such a vaccine in Europe next month, Dr. Petrou says they could be available sometime in the last quarter of 2022, adding, however, that there are no clear timelines.
In addition, he notes that further developments are expected for a vaccine, which will be specially adapted to "Omicron 4" and "Omicron 5".
The practice followed for the flu vaccine may also be applied against the coronavirus, says Dr. Peter
Invited by the KYPE to state if there is a case for the vaccine against the coronavirus to become seasonal, like the flu, Dr. Petrou estimates that "it is possible that the practice followed for the flu vaccine can also be applied against the coronavirus", explaining that there may be a bivalent or multivalent vaccine platform and that a strain is changed to deal with the prevailing strain as well.
"Of course", he notes, "the big goal is the development of vaccines, which limit to a large extent the spread and transmission of the virus".
According to Dr. Petrou "this can probably be done with intranasal vaccines", to add that therefore the news from the studies is less encouraging.