Ms. Ciesek, you examined the latest vaccine adapted to the virus variant B.4/5, a so-called bivalent vaccine, in the laboratory.

What was the result?

Monica Ganster

Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

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Thorsten Winter

Business editor and internet coordinator in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

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We from the virology department at the University Hospital Frankfurt were involved in examining people who had recovered from BA.5 – i.e. people who had a breakthrough infection with the BA.5 variant.

The study shows that these individuals have developed a very broad immune response against different omicron variants such as BA.1, BA.2 and BA.5.

Biontech was also able to see similar findings in immunized mice, which then received the new bivalent vaccine with BA.4/5 as a booster.

The immune response, especially against the currently circulating virus variant BA.5, was significantly better after a vaccine adapted to BA.4 and BA.5 than after a vaccine tailored to BA.1 or the old agent.

With what restrictions can the result in mice be extrapolated to humans?

Clinical trials in humans with the bivalent vaccines described here are ongoing, first results are expected soon.

Most recently, Moderna published the first data from its clinical trial with the BA.1 bivalent vaccine in the New England Journal of Medicine on September 16th.

What did this study show?

About 800 test persons were included here and it was shown that the safety was comparable to the vaccine used previously.

The neutralizing antibodies against variant BA.1 measured here were higher after administration of the bivalent BA.1 vaccine than after administration of the conventional vaccine.

It is true that the data on the BA.4/5 vaccine comes from mouse experiments, but this procedure is also common, for example, in the annual adjustment of flu vaccines.

The vaccine is only minimally different compared to the BA.1 bivalent vaccine – for which initial data are available in humans.

The data on the immune response of BA.5 recoveries also shows similar results as the mouse experiments.

Had one waited for the full evaluation of the BA.4/5 vaccine clinical trial,

Can a recommendation be derived from this, for example that it is worth waiting for the B4/5 vaccine that has not yet been delivered - especially for non-vulnerable groups or people under the age of 60?

Based on the data published as a preprint, I already see an advantage in the vaccine adapted to BA.4/5 in direct comparison to the vaccine adapted to BA.1 and, fortunately, delivery is imminent.

Ultimately, however, it is always a matter of consideration: Can I wait?

Or is the risk of becoming infected in the meantime very high?

Exactly how long do I have to wait before my family doctor can administer the BA.4/5 adapted vaccine?

The vaccines adapted to BA.1 also increase the neutralizing antibodies against the omicron variants.

Millions of people are still not vaccinated against Corona.

What does that mean with regard to the cold season?

It is true that many people are still not or only partially vaccinated against Covid-19.

Even if the omicron variants lead to severe courses and hospital treatment somewhat less frequently than the delta variant, older unvaccinated people in particular can still become seriously ill or even die from the infection.

Basic immunization can reduce the risk of a severe course for yourself.

Even now this is still possible.