Construction of Eden Hills began in October, with the first phase anticipated for completion by Q4 2027
realty4 hours ago
How would Covid-19 vaccine makers adapt to variants? By tweaking their vaccines, a process that should be easier than coming up with the original shots.
Also read:
Viruses constantly mutate as they spread, and most changes aren’t significant. First-generation Covid-19 vaccines appear to be working against today’s variants, but makers already are taking steps to update their recipes if health authorities decide that’s needed.
Covid-19 vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna are made with new technology that’s easy to update. The so-called mRNA vaccines use a piece of genetic code for the spike protein that coats the coronavirus, so your immune system can learn to recognize and fight the real thing.
If a variant with a mutated spike protein crops up that the original vaccine can’t recognise, companies would swap out that piece of genetic code for a better match — if and when regulators decide that’s necessary.
Updating other Covid-19 vaccines could be more complex. The AstraZeneca vaccine, for example, uses a harmless version of a cold virus to carry that spike protein gene into the body. An update would require growing cold viruses with the updated spike gene.
The Food and Drug Administration said studies of updated Covid-19 vaccines won’t have to be as large or long as for the first generation of shots. Instead, a few hundred volunteers could receive experimental doses of a revamped vaccine and have their blood checked for signs it revved up the immune system as well as the original vaccines.
More difficult is deciding if the virus has morphed enough to modify shots.
Globally, health authorities will monitor coronavirus mutations to spot vaccine-resistant mutations. They’d also have to decide whether any revamped vaccine should protect against more than one variant.
Overall the process would be similar to what already happens with flu vaccine. Influenza viruses mutate much faster than coronaviruses, so flu shots are adjusted every year and must protect against multiple strains.
Construction of Eden Hills began in October, with the first phase anticipated for completion by Q4 2027
realty4 hours ago
Business, investment and philanthropy climate platform forges pathways for robust public-private partnerships
business4 hours ago
The Chinese moved to six points from five games with Zhang's 91st minute winner against Bahrain
sports4 hours ago
All Seasons Residence in Dubai Sports City to be ready for handover in December 2027
business4 hours ago
Initiative aims to inspire sustainable food choices in Dubai
business4 hours ago
More than 3,380 people have been killed in Lebanon since the clashes began last year, according to the health ministry
mena5 hours ago
The two countries are celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations this year
uae5 hours ago
The social media platform opened its first office in the Middle East and North Africa region in the emirate in 2015
uae5 hours ago