Covid-19: European regulator authorizes Pfizer vaccine against Omicron subvariants

Europe 1 with AFP 6:21 p.m., September 12, 2022

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) on Monday approved a Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine targeting the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 sublines, for a booster campaign this winter to ward off new waves anticipated.

"The EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended authorizing an adapted bivalent vaccine targeting Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants in addition to the original strain of SARS-CoV- 2," the EMA said in a statement.

>>

- UK authorizes new Pfizer vaccine targeting Omicron

The serum should, according to the EMA, be "more effective than Comirnaty in triggering an immune response against the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants", which are more benign but more easily transmitted.

The vaccine, an adapted version of the mRNA anti-Covid Comirnaty vaccine from Pfizer/BioNTech, is intended for people aged 12 and over who have received at least a first vaccination against Covid-19, the EMA said.

The European Commission will decide 

While "new waves of infections are anticipated during the cold season", this recommendation "will further expand the arsenal of vaccines available to protect people against Covid-19" within the EU, welcomed the European regulator .

The CHMP opinion on "Comirnaty Original/Omicron BA.4-5" will now be sent to the European Commission, which will adopt a final decision.

The green light from the EMA closely follows the approval earlier this month of two other adapted vaccines by Pfizer and rival Moderna, which target the original Covid-19 strain and Omicron's earlier BA.1 subvariant.

Together with the recently authorized Original/Omicron BA.1 adapted vaccine, this new adapted vaccine should help maintain optimal protection against Covid-19 as the virus evolves, according to the EMA.