The World Health Organisation (WHO) Technical Advisory Group has warned of the need to update the composition of the current COVID-19 vaccines for continued effectiveness against Omicron and future variants.
This is contained in an interim statement from the Technical Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition (TAG-CO-VAC), an 18-experts group appointed by the UN health agency.
The group stated that vaccines that had a high impact on the prevention of infection and transmission, in addition to prevention of severe disease and death, were needed and should be developed.
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“Until such vaccines are available, and as the SARS-CoV-2 virus evolves, the composition of current COVID-19 vaccines may need to be updated to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines continue to provide WHO-recommended levels of protection against infection and disease by VOCs, including Omicron and future variants,” the statement said.
The group will consider a change in vaccine composition to ensure doses continue to meet WHO criteria, including protection against severe disease and improving vaccine-induced protection.
The expert group encouraged COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers to generate and provide data on the performance of current and Omicron-specific vaccines, which will inform any decision when changes to vaccine composition may be required.
(NAN)
