Singapore approved the use of Moderna bivalent additional vaccine.
Moderna vaccine against the original strain of the coronavirus and the Omickron variant strain has been temporarily authorized in Singapore for people aged 18 and over who have completed the basic vaccination procedure as an additive. Moderna expects people to get the vaccine locally this month.
This Spikevax bivalent vaccine is the first bivalent additional vaccine temporarily authorized in Singapore. is an improved version of the vaccine against the original strain earlier, with a single dose of 25 micrograms of vaccine against the original strain, and 25 micrograms of vaccine against the Omickron BA.1 strain.
This vaccine was authorized through the special application procedures of the pandemic. The expert group of COVID-19 vaccines and the Ministry of Health will issue suggestions on vaccination matters in a timely manner.
Hospital Science Bureau has evaluated data from multiple parties and combined expert opinions, believing that the benefits of to use this additive for Singapore's population outweigh the risks.
According to the trials Moderna is conducting in people aged 18 and older, this vaccine will trigger a strong immune response that can fight the Omickron BA.1 strain while retaining immunity against the original strain. Preliminary data found that the vaccine may also trigger antibodies against other variant strains, such as Omickron BA.4 or BA.5, as well as earlier strains such as Delta.
HS Bureau said that can reasonably infer from these results that bivalent additional vaccines can not only strengthen immunity against the Omickron strain, but also retain the basic protection that the original vaccine can provide.
According to the latest data from the Ministry of Health website, in July, both local or imported cases were infected with Omickron strains, with Omickron BA.5 accounting for the largest number, totaling 70%.
This bivalent additional vaccine is consistent with the known conditions of the original Spikevax vaccine. Most adverse reactions are mild to moderate, such as pain at the injection, headache and muscle aches, and will generally recover on your own within a few days.
Dr. Zhuang Meiling, Director of the Bureau of Health Sciences, said that after the emergence of highly contagious strains such as Omickron, the global epidemic situation has evolved a lot.
Modified COVID-19 vaccines, such as bivalent vaccines, are expected to provide people with more comprehensive immunity to fight the spreading strains while retaining the necessary protection to prevent severe illness and death. ”
Content source: Lianhe Zaobao
