Sarah Bennett
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen the emergence of several new strains of the coronavirus, including a highly transmissible variant first discovered in the UK. While the original vaccines provided protection against severe illness and hospitalisation, they have proven less effective against newer variants like Omicron and its subvariants. Bivalent vaccines, which target both the original strain and new variants, have been developed to improve protection. These updated vaccines have shown increased neutralisation capacity against Omicron subvariants compared to the original monovalent vaccines. Drug manufacturers are also working to adapt their vaccines to protect against emerging variants and boost overall immunity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Are existing vaccines likely to protect against the UK strain? | Yes, according to Dr. Scott Gottlieb, existing Covid-19 vaccines will likely provide protection against the UK strain. |
| Are monovalent vaccines effective against the UK strain? | Monovalent vaccines have proved highly effective at protecting against severe COVID-19. However, the Omicron variant reduced vaccine effectiveness and the duration of protection. |
| Are bivalent vaccines effective against the UK strain? | Bivalent vaccines have been developed that target the spike proteins of both the ancestral wild-type SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron sub-lineages. Laboratory studies show that these vaccines have increased neutralization capacity against various Omicron sub-lineages compared to vaccines targeting only the ancestral strain. |
| Are drugmakers working on new vaccines to protect against the UK strain? | Drugmakers are rushing to retool shots to boost protection against variants. The FDA is also putting together new standards for adapting drugs, tests, and vaccines to fight against more resilient mutations. |
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What You'll Learn
- The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine protects against the UK variant
- The Moderna vaccine is effective against new strains
- Bivalent vaccines offer increased protection against BA.4, BA.5, and BA.2.75 variants
- Monovalent vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe COVID-19
- Vaccine manufacturers can adapt to protect against emerging variants
The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine protects against the UK variant
The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has been found to protect against the UK variant of Covid-19, also known as the B.1.1.7 variant, which was first identified in Kent, southern England. This variant is believed to be significantly more transmissible than existing variants, leading to a spike in infections and strict lockdowns in the UK.
Data from trials of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, also known as the ChAdOx1 vaccine, indicate that it is effective against the UK variant. Andrew Pollard, chief investigator on the Oxford vaccine trial, stated that the vaccine "not only protects against the original pandemic virus but also protects against the novel variant, B.1.1.7." This suggests that the vaccine can provide protection against both the original virus and the new mutation.
While the vaccine has shown efficacy against the UK variant, Sarah Gilbert, co-developer of the vaccine, noted that it might need to be adapted for future variants. The Oxford team is working with AstraZeneca to optimise the pipeline required for a strain change if necessary. This proactive approach ensures they are prepared to address any emerging variants effectively.
The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine is a crucial component of the UK's vaccination programme, with over 10 million people having received their first dose as of February 2021. The vaccine rollout is on track to offer jabs to all those in the top four priority groups by the middle of February and to people aged 50 and over by May. The progress of the vaccination regime is encouraging, and the protection offered by the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine against the UK variant is a significant development in the fight against Covid-19.
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The Moderna vaccine is effective against new strains
The Moderna vaccine has been shown to be effective against new strains of COVID-19. In December 2020, Moderna's Phase 3 clinical data showed about 95% efficacy in preventing COVID-19. While the protection from the initial two-dose mRNA series waned over time, booster doses brought the immune system back to robust levels.
The Moderna vaccine was first introduced in December 2020, targeting the original SARS-CoV-2 virus. Since then, it has been updated multiple times to combat different iterations of the Omicron strain. For instance, in 2022, bivalent vaccines were developed to target both the original virus and the Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5. Similarly, in 2023, a monovalent shot was designed to target the XBB lineage of the Omicron variant.
The COVID-19 vaccine landscape is constantly evolving to address new challenges posed by emerging variants. The 2024-2025 Moderna vaccine was expected to work well against new predominant strains and other variants, according to a CDC summary from November 2024. This vaccine formulation targeted the JN.1 variant, and studies showed it induced broad cross-neutralizing antibodies against multiple variant strains, including JN.1, KP.2, and KP.3.
Looking ahead, the FDA has approved updated COVID-19 vaccines for the 2025-2026 season, and these are already available or making their way to pharmacies and doctors' offices across the country. Moderna's updated vaccine for this season has been reformulated to more closely match currently circulating strains, specifically targeting the LP.8.1 subvariant of the Omicron JN.1 lineage. Studies have shown that this updated vaccine generates a modestly stronger immune response than earlier shots targeting JN.1 and KP.2.
In summary, the Moderna vaccine has consistently demonstrated effectiveness against new COVID-19 strains through its ability to induce robust immune responses and protect against severe disease. The vaccine has been updated iteratively to address emerging variants, and the latest 2025-2026 formulation promises enhanced protection against the most recent predominant strains.
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Bivalent vaccines offer increased protection against BA.4, BA.5, and BA.2.75 variants
In December 2020, Dr. Scott Gottlieb stated that existing Covid-19 vaccines would likely provide protection against the new strain of coronavirus circulating in the UK, which was believed to be more than 70% more transmissible than existing variants. The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was also found to protect against the UK variant.
Since then, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has continued to evolve, giving rise to new variants such as BA.4, BA.5, and BA.2.75, which are more transmissible and better at evading the immune response. To address this, bivalent vaccines have been developed to provide broader protection against these emerging variants.
Bivalent vaccines, such as the mRNA-1273.222 (Moderna) and BNT162b2 Bivalent (Pfizer-BioNTech), are designed to target both the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and specific variants. In doing so, they offer increased protection against hospitalization and outpatient visits associated with the BA.4 and BA.5 variants compared to the original monovalent vaccines. This increased protection has been observed in both clinical trials and real-world settings.
Additionally, studies in mice have shown that the bivalent mRNA-1273.222 vaccine induces a strong inhibitory response against the BA.2.75 variant, providing further evidence of its effectiveness against this particular subvariant. The US FDA has authorized the use of these updated bivalent vaccines for individuals ages 6 months and older, recommending that everyone in this age group receive the updated COVID-19 vaccines to protect against hospitalization and death.
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Monovalent vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe COVID-19
In 2020, the UK reported a new strain of coronavirus that was believed to be 70% more transmissible than existing variants. In response to this, Dr Scott Gottlieb reassured the public that existing Covid-19 vaccines would likely provide protection against the new strain. The virus mutation did not appear to have increased its deadliness, which was confirmed by the former FDA chief.
Fast forward to 2025, and the FDA has approved updated COVID-19 vaccines for 2025-2026, specifically targeting the LP.8.1 variant, a subvariant of the omicron JN.1 lineage. These monovalent vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe COVID-19, reducing hospitalisation and death. Moderna and Pfizer studies show that the LP.8.1 vaccines generate a stronger immune response than earlier shots, and Pfizer has confirmed protection against multiple variants, including XFG (Stratus) and NB.1.8.1 (Nimbus).
The updated monovalent vaccines are recommended for adults aged 65 and older, as well as individuals aged 6 months to 64 years with underlying conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19. These conditions include diabetes, heart disease, asthma, kidney disease, cancer, and mental health disorders. The CDC's list of risk factors also includes pregnancy.
While the vaccines are an important tool in preventing severe illness, it is important to note that they may not protect everyone, and they are not a treatment for COVID-19 infection. Precautions should still be taken to reduce the risk of infection, and any other medications should be discussed with a doctor.
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Vaccine manufacturers can adapt to protect against emerging variants
Viruses typically mutate, and several variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been identified globally. While the currently authorised vaccines provide protection against the prevalent variants in Europe, they may need to be adapted to ensure continued protection against emerging variants.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has provided guidance for vaccine manufacturers to adapt COVID-19 vaccines to SARS-CoV-2 variants. EMA recommends conducting immunogenicity studies to investigate the immune response triggered by the variant vaccine against the variant virus. At least one clinical trial should be conducted on subjects who have not been previously vaccinated or infected with SARS-CoV-2. This "bridging study" compares the immune response of the variant vaccine against the variant virus with the immune response of the parent vaccine against the parent virus.
Additionally, vaccine manufacturers should study the efficacy of the variant vaccine as a single dose or a booster in individuals previously vaccinated with the parent vaccine. The immune response induced by one dose of the variant vaccine should be compared with the immune response recorded during clinical trials of the parent vaccine.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is also working on new standards for adapting vaccines to fight resilient mutations. The National Institutes of Health is collaborating with drugmakers to initiate human trials of variant-targeting vaccines. These efforts aim to ensure that vaccines remain effective against emerging variants, such as the UK strain, which is believed to be more transmissible.
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Frequently asked questions
According to Dr. Scott Gottlieb, existing Covid-19 vaccines will likely provide protection against the UK strain. However, some scientists worry that current vaccines may not provide sufficient immunity against emerging variants.
The UK strain, or B.1.1.7, is a variant of the coronavirus that is believed to be more than 70% more transmissible than existing variants.
Drugmakers are working to develop variant-targeting vaccines, and the FDA is putting together new standards for adapting drugs, tests, and vaccines to fight more resilient mutations.
While the vaccines currently being administered are believed to be effective against the UK strain, their effectiveness may decrease over time. Laboratory studies have shown that antibodies from people vaccinated with bivalent vaccines have increased neutralization capacity against certain variants compared to antibodies from those vaccinated with vaccines targeting the ancestral strain only.
