UK become the 1st country to approve Omicron Vaccine
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10Pointer
- Categories
World Affairs
- Published
17th Aug, 2022
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Context
The UK became the world's first country to approve a COVID-19 vaccine for both the Omicron variant and the original coronavirus strain.
Key-Highlights
- The 'bivalent' vaccine has been made by US drugmaker Moderna.
- An updated version of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Moderna that targets two coronavirus variants (known as a “bivalent” vaccine) has been approved for adult booster doses by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
- Conditional authorisation for the vaccine was granted by “Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority”.
- It was also the first authority worldwide to approve the original Covid-19 vaccine.
- Authorized vaccine caters to the original as well as Omicron BA.1 strain of the coronavirus.
- It has been authorised for use among people aged above 18.
- Now the UK will focus on its booster programme for people aged over 50 and who are highly vulnerable to developing Covid.
About Omicron Variant
- Omicron B.1.1.529 is a variant of SARS-CoV-2.
- Network for Genomics Surveillance had first reported this variant in South Africa in November 2021.
- The first case was detected in Botswana and has now spread across the world to become a predominant variant in circulation.
- Apart from the original BA.1 variant, many subvariants viz., BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, and BA.5 have emerged over time.
- In order to protect against severe disease and hospitalisation caused due to BA.1 and BA.2 variants of Omicron, 3 doses of covid-19 vaccine are provided.
- BA.4 and BA.5 variants are more infectious as compared to other subvariants.
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