Moderna Says Its Vaccine Protection Doesn't Wane After 6 Months

[appalachiablue]

Source: MSN/NYT

1 hr ago. The powerful protection offered by Moderna’s Covid vaccine does not wane in the first six months after the second dose, according to a statement with few scientific details that the company released on Thursday morning in advance of its earnings call.

The results may provide comfort to the 63 million Americans who have received two doses of the Moderna vaccine, especially as the super-contagious Delta variant continues to spread across the country.

The news may also inform the global debate about when — or whether — vaccinated people may need a booster shot. Germany, Israel, France and Britain have all decided to administer additional shots to vulnerable populations — such as older people or people with compromised immune systems or both — to bolster their immunity in the face of a Delta-variant-driven surge in cases. The Biden administration is considering a similar strategy.

On Wednesday, the World Health Organization called for a three-month moratorium on boosters. The group urged health leaders to focus instead on vaccinating 10 percent of people in all countries. Moderna’s data came from a new analysis of its clinical trial, which started in late July 2020 and recruited a total of 30,000 volunteers. In November, the company announced that the vaccine had an impressive efficacy of 94.1 percent. That number didn’t change much after six months, the company reported...

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/moderna-says-its-vaccine-s-protection-doesn-t-wane-after-6-months/ar-AAMYdfz

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*Read the Full Article.

[brooklynite]

1. Good, because I'm hitting the 6-month mark...

[LisaL]

2. These numbers don't include delta.

Moderna thinks we are going to need boosters before winter.

[appalachiablue]

3. The title is misleading, here's more:

In June, Moderna released details on an experiment in which its researchers tested antibodies from people who received their vaccine against the Delta variant. They found that the antibodies were moderately less effective at blocking the variant from infecting cells.

In the earnings call on Thursday, the company presented details from additional studies. They found that the strength of the antibodies against variants waned substantially by six months after the second dose.

Moderna has been developing a range of boosters and testing them in clinical trials. On Thursday the company reported that a booster containing half a dose of the original formulation strengthened the antibodies against the Delta variant substantially above the levels seen shortly after volunteers received their two original doses.

In an earnings call last week, Pfizer also said that its booster raised antibodies above their original level. Both studies have yet to be published in a scientific journal.

[Rorey]

14. I'll follow the rules, of course

I have to admit I'm eager to get a Pfizer booster shot, but I'll follow the rules.

[FarPoint]

17. I got my first Moderna December 2020....

Second in January 2021...I'm beginning to see active covid-19/Delta clients now here in Ohio...all the one I saw were unvaccinated...so far...I wear N95 masks, full PPE .....

So, I feel like I'm back on the edge of the cliff seeing clients/ home IV's. The new covid-19 clients were not any of my IV clients just new infections referred from a physicians office with early symptoms, tested positive, got monoclonal antibodies and home quarantine...I have had to send 2 this week, 2 last week into hospital/ admission and all unvaccinated....

I am really ready for DOSE # 3.....NOW!

[Earth-shine]

4. The headline is misleading. At the end of the article, it clearly says ...

In the earnings call on Thursday, the company presented details from additional studies. They found that the strength of the antibodies against variants waned substantially by six months after the second dose.

Moderna has been developing a range of boosters and testing them in clinical trials. On Thursday the company reported that a booster containing half a dose of the original formulation strengthened the antibodies against the Delta variant substantially above the levels seen shortly after volunteers received their two original doses.

[LisaL]

7. I don't think it's misleading. The study concluded before delta became dominant.

But it obviously doesn't reveal the full picture. Monderna says we will need boosters to help against delta and other variants.

[Earth-shine]

9. Moderna says we will need boosters to help against delta and other variants.

Last edited Thu Aug 5, 2021, 10:34 AM - Edit history (1)

That should be the title!

[wnylib]

19. Totally agree.

[appalachiablue]

8. I just posted this part as well, exact same time

[Earth-shine]

11. Not fair -- yours appears on top of mine.

Great minds think alike!

[appalachiablue]

12. Ha, crazy article. NYT should retract & revise!

[Tomconroy]

5. I like that phrase 'statistical artifact'.

There is a lot of that going around.

[ananda]

6. I'm at four months.

OK, that's good, but what about the next mutation
that evades all vaccines?

[appalachiablue]

10. We don't know, study didn't include Delta

Moderna states it's working on a booster. Strange article.

[ananda]

13. Moderna did say that a booster would be needed for delta...

in the fall.

[appalachiablue]

15. Yes and the title should have reflected that!

[Dreampuff]

23. Those have been my same thoughts!

The longer the unvaccinated are among us, the more risk we have that a more dangerous mutation will occur. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that the Pharmaceuticals are already studying up on how to alter the current vaccines to take care of something stronger. At least I hope they have such forward-thinking.

[ananda]

34. Same here.

I want this fucking over with!

[Tomconroy]

16. Maybe the better headline would have been:

Moderna does not know how effective vaccine is against delta variant.

[roamer65]

18. Glad I got Moderna.

[HUAJIAO]

35. Me too. For some reason I trust them more.

Maybe because I like the name more than PFFEIZZER

[tavernier]

20. So... the people who now are finally convinced

and getting vaccinated, will be better protected against Delta than we early vaxers who will need a booster that is not yet being given?

… ok…

[Warpy]

21. It's over a year in the earliest test subjects

which is a good thing, but the large scale studies tell the real tale.

Three months between shots was recommended some weeks ago for the Pfizer shot, one very much like the Moderna shot.

Boosters will likely be required every few years as the virus continues to mutate.

[Texin]

22. What would prevent one lying about having received earlier vaccinations

if they wanted to receive a booster? My husband wanted to get a booster for the J&J vaccine he received in February. The pharmacist simply asked him if he'd received the earlier vaccine and my husband confirmed he'd had the single shot earlier. What if he'd just said no? The pharmacist told him that they were prevented from administering boosters at this time but how would the know?

[appalachiablue]

27. The state depts. of health must have

the data, think I read that here- if the pharmacy checks. There's more info. on this for J & J vax people, I'll look around.

[ProfessorGAC]

29. Must Be True Here

In Illinois, the vax lottery did not require one to sign up.
If you got the shot(s), they knew & automatically entered you.
The record of vax is clearly being kept.

[appalachiablue]

31. I def thought the state/govts. kept records.

[Deminpenn]

36. Yes, just saw a story about UNC, which is requiring

students to be vaccinated, having students confirm vaccination status by going online. Their status is checked against the NC's vaccination database instead of the school relying on the more easily counterfeited CDC vaccination record forms.

[appalachiablue]

28. Aug. 3 news Re San Fran

J&J Covid vaccine recipients can get supplemental Pfizer or Moderna dose in San Francisco

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/03/jj-covid-vaccine-recipients-can-get-supplemental-pfizer-or-moderna-shots-in-san-francisco.html

[oldsoftie]

24. But how long does the magnetism last??

I need to know!

[BumRushDaShow]

25. I'll be hitting the 6 month, post-Moderna 2nd dose around the 3rd week of October

which is around the beginning of the flu season. Moderna has been trialing their quadravalent mRNA flu vaccine, including in combo with their COVID-19 one. Plus they have ongoing trials for the 12 - 17 age group and the 6 months - 11 age group, as well as one targeted for transplant patients.

Finally they are also looking at some new candidates with a slightly different configuration for a possible booster alternative to a 3rd dose, and as their follow-on COVID-19 vaccine (as well as continuing with their other vaccine efforts).

From their report (linked in the OP article) - https://investors.modernatx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/moderna-reports-second-quarter-fiscal-year-2021-financial

Moderna Reports Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2021 Financial Results and Provides Business Updates

August 5, 2021 at 6:29 AM EDT

(snip)

Looking forward, Bancel said, “We have begun preparing late stage studies for our flu vaccine and RSV vaccine, which received fast track designation from the FDA a few days ago and are looking forward towards our vision of a single dose annual booster that provides protection against COVID-19, flu and RSV for adults. I look forward to the start of our Phase 3 trial for CMV this year and to clinical proof of concept data in the coming quarters from our therapeutics pipeline. We believe this is just the beginning.”

(snip)

Addressing Variants of Concern: In a Phase 2 study, vaccination with 50 µg of three different Moderna mRNA booster candidates induced robust antibody responses against the wildtype D614G COVID-19 strain and against important variants of concern including Gamma (P.1); Beta (B.1.351); and Delta (B.1.617.2). The booster candidates included mRNA-1273, investigational mRNA-1273.351, and investigational mRNA-1273.211. Neutralizing antibody levels following the boost approached those observed after primary vaccination with two doses of 100 µg of mRNA-1273. These data have been submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.

Further Clinical Studies of mRNA-1273

Phase 2/3 “TeenCOVE” study of mRNA-1273 in adolescents: The Phase 2/3 study of mRNA-1273 in adolescents ages 12-17 years completed enrollment in the U.S. An initial analysis of 3,732 participants randomized 2:1 in TeenCOVE Study showed a vaccine efficacy rate of 93% in seronegative participants who received at least one injection in a secondary analysis. The analysis included 15 cases (13 in the placebo group and 2 in the mRNA-1273 group) reported 14 days after first dose and based on the CDC definition of COVID-19, which requires one COVID-19 symptom and paired with a nasopharyngeal (NP) swab or saliva sample positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR. The median duration for follow-up in this initial analysis was 53 days following the second dose. mRNA-1273 was generally well tolerated. The majority of adverse events were mild or moderate in severity. The most common solicited local adverse event was injection site pain. The most common solicited systemic adverse events after the second dose of mRNA-1273 were headache, fatigue, myalgia and chills. The Conditional Marketing Authorization (CMA) for Spikevax1 in the European Union (EU) has been expanded to include adolescents 12 years of age and older. In addition, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare also approved Moderna Inc.'s COVID-19 vaccine for ages 12 to 17. Moderna has filed for an emergency use authorization (EUA) for adolescents with the U.S. Food and Drug administration as well as with additional regulatory agencies around the world.

Phase 2 “KidCOVE” study of mRNA-1273 in young children: The Phase 2 study of mRNA-1273 in pediatric population ages 6 months to 11 years is ongoing.

(snip)

Seasonal influenza vaccine (mRNA-1010, mRNA-1020, mRNA-1030): Seasonal flu (type A and type B) epidemics occur seasonally and vary in severity each year, causing respiratory illnesses and placing substantial burden on healthcare systems. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates approximately 3-5 million severe cases of flu each year globally, and 290,000-650,000 flu-related respiratory deaths. In the U.S., the estimated average economic burden of flu is approximately $11 billion per year. Current flu vaccines are only approximately 40-60% effective and their formulation is decided 9 months before the vaccines are intended to be used. The Company plans to explore potential combination vaccines against flu, SARS-CoV-2, RSV and human metapneumovirus (hMPV). The Company’s first-generation flu program will evaluate multiple candidates comprising multiple antigen combinations against the four seasonal viruses recommended by the WHO. The sentinel cohorts in the Phase 1/2 study of mRNA-1010 have been dosed.

(snip)

[AngryOldDem]

32. I'm on the same timeframe.

Got my second dose at the end of April, so if there’s a booster it will probably be November for me.

[Ligyron]

26. So this booster has to be an updated for Delta version.

The news was making it seem like just another dose of the same vaccine was what was being discussed.

That might help some I was thinking but…

It is a bit confusing, at least for me.

So other countries wanting to get everybody that 1st dose before anyone getting boosters when an updated version wouldn’t interfere with that at all makes less sense now.

The US has a bunch left But it’s hard to see giving it away when only about half of our population has been vaccinated so far

[AngryOldDem]

30. I wonder how that would coincide with a flu vaccine?

A waiting period between shots?

Really doesn’t matter since I’ll get both no matter what, but I’m curious if they foresee any kind of wait time between the two.

[appalachiablue]

33. I know I would wait, not bombard the

body unless there was no other way, or there was solid info. re safety.

Years ago I worked with people who had vision impairments, mainly in the DC metro area. There were at least two clients, State Dept. and govt. employees that came down with health maladies after receiving shots in one day before travelling overseas. One woman said he had to get 6 or more shots, in one day.

[madville]

37. Somewhat misleading just from the headline

They should make it clear that this only applies to variants that existed before Delta and the study was done before Delta spread across the world.

Moderna themselves are developing and saying a booster will be needed soon because the original vaccine isn’t as effective against Delta and likely future variants.

[appalachiablue]

38. Clear omission, they could have added

a few words about Delta, variants.