Moderna says its booster significantly raises the level of antibodies to thwart Omicron

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: New York Times

A booster shot of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine significantly raises the level of antibodies that can thwart the Omicron variant, the company announced on Monday. The news arrives as Omicron rapidly advances across the world, and most coronavirus vaccines seem unable to stave off infection from the highly contagious variant.

Moderna’s results show that the currently authorized booster dose of 50 micrograms — half the dose given for primary immunization — increased the level of antibodies by roughly 37-fold, the company said. A full dose of 100 micrograms was even more powerful, raising antibody levels about 83-fold compared with pre-boost levels, Moderna said.

Both doses produced side effects comparable to those seen after the two-dose primary series. But the dose of 100 micrograms showed slightly more frequent adverse reactions relative to the authorized 50-microgram dose. The results are based on laboratory tests that do not capture the full range of the body’s immune response against the virus. Although vaccines may not prevent infection from the variant, they are expected to prevent severe illness in the vast majority of people.

The data have also not been published or reviewed by independent experts. Moderna said it was preparing a manuscript with the data that would be posted online. The pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech announced earlier this month that a booster shot of their vaccine also increased the level of antibodies against Omicron.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/20/health/moderna-covid-booster-omicron.html

---

Looking forward to the peer-reviewed data publication.

[multigraincracker]

1. Sure do hope for a

yearly booster.

[LisaL]

2. Good news.

NT

[left-of-center2012]

3. Moderna is what I got

Both shots plus the booster. 😁

[2naSalit]

16. Same here.

[Initech]

46. Triple vaxxed as well!

And if I need to be quadruple vaxxed, so be it!

[niyad]

52. Same here. And, luckily, with no side effects from any of them.

[left-of-center2012]

53. I had no problem with the first two shots

Well, the second shot gave me a sore arm for one day.

But I had a lot of trouble with the booster.
I had severe low back pain for about a week.

I looked it up online and that was one of the side effects.
Fortunately I had some pain pills and muscle relaxers from previous back pain.

[LittleGirl]

4. I got my Moderna booster Friday

All I got was a sore arm!

[BumRushDaShow]

5. And this

I got my Moderna booster back on November 15 and got the flu shot with it

[Rhiannon12866]

8. Damn! Again I forgot to ask for a sticker!

I didn't get one after my first two shots, either - but when I took my brother to get his and he got a sticker, I mentioned it, so they gave me a sticker there!

[BumRushDaShow]

10. LOL

Since I didn't go back to the same place where I got my first 2 doses (I found a place closer where I normally get my scripts filled that did have Moderna), I didn't get a sticker for the booster. But I did get a sticker after the 2nd dose of my initial 2 shots (they had told me that they saved giving out stickers until someone got their 2nd shot).

I put my sticker inside the plastic sleeve where I keep my vax card.

[Rhiannon12866]

11. I think mine ended up in my wallet. I have a habit of sending my "I Voted" stickers through the wash..

[BumRushDaShow]

14. ....

My "I Voted Today" stickers would proudly get lined up along the top of my laptop monitor (where I stuck them when I got home and pulled them off to put them somewhere).

Now that I have been doing mail-in voting (the last 4 elections - 2 primaries and 2 generals), that pretty much ended the sticker brigade.

[wnylib]

28. I got a sore arm, fatigue, lightheadedness, and

a pretty pink, tennis ball sized, perfect circle on the same side as the shot. Had the pink circle after the 2nd shot, too.

[LittleGirl]

32. Wow. It's amazing how differently we all react. eom

[DFW]

6. That is very encouraging

Obviously I wouldn't expect them to publicly announce, "well, people, we're sorry, but you're up shit creek if you come into contact with Omicron, but hey, our vaccine is GREAT for anything that might have shown up previously!"

However, if it's true that it provides a significant degree of protection from Omicron, so much the better.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. That sortof happened when they looked at Pfizer's vaccine in the South Africa population

early on -

Pfizer shot less effective in South Africa after Omicron emerges, study shows
By Alexander Winning and Wendell Roelf


JOHANNESBURG, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine has been less effective in South Africa at keeping people infected with the virus out of hospital since the Omicron variant emerged last month, a real-world study published on Tuesday showed. Between Nov. 15 and Dec. 7, people who had received two doses of the shot had a 70% chance of avoiding hospitalisation, down from 93% during the previous wave of Delta infections, the study showed.

When it came to avoiding infection altogether, the study by South Africa's largest private health insurance administrator, Discovery Health, showed that protection against catching COVID-19 had slumped to 33% from 80% previously. The findings from the real-world analysis are some of the first about the protection vaccines offer against Omicron outside of laboratory studies, which have so far shown a reduced ability to neutralise the virus.

The study results were based on an analysis by Discovery's (DSYJ.J) clinical research and actuarial teams in collaboration with the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC).

South Africa alerted the world to Omicron in November, triggering alarm that it could cause another surge in global infections and leading to travel curbs on southern Africa. South Africa's daily infections have since risen to more than 20,000, with 35% of tests coming back positive in figures reported on Tuesday, and a further 600 hospital admissions and 24 deaths.

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/pfizer-vaccine-protecting-against-hospitalisation-during-omicron-wave-study-2021-12-14/

I think the one thing about S.A. that is different from elsewhere is that they went from having Beta as the predominate post-wild type strain to Delta and then to Omicron, where here and in Europe, these populations had Alpha as the predominate strain and then Delta, and now Omicron is rapidly taking over.

When it comes to vaccines in general, the bar is relatively low (W.H.O. only specified "at least 50% effective" as their baseline for COVID-19 vaccines).

Vaccine efficacy, effectiveness and protection
14 July 2021


This article is part of a series of explainers on vaccine development and distribution. Learn more about vaccines – from how they work and how they’re made to ensuring safety and equitable access – in WHO’s Vaccines Explained series.

COVID-19 vaccines have proven to be safe, effective and life-saving. Like all vaccines, they do not fully protect everyone who is vaccinated, and we do not yet know how well they can prevent people from transmitting the virus to others. So as well as getting vaccinated, we must also continue with other measures to fight the pandemic.
Vaccine efficacy and effectiveness

All COVID-19 vaccines approved by WHO for emergency use listing have been through randomized clinical trials to test their quality, safety and efficacy. To be approved, vaccines are required to have a high efficacy rate of 50% or above. After approval, they continue to be monitored for ongoing safety and effectiveness. But what is the difference between efficacy and effectiveness?

(snip)

https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/vaccine-efficacy-effectiveness-and-protection

[Rhiannon12866]

7. That's what I got as well! Got my booster Thursday before last

And I know that it's working since I felt just as rotten the day after the booster as I did after shot #2! Thanks for the good news!

[BumRushDaShow]

12. I expect we may have to gird for "annual" shots (with boosters as necessary)

At this point, the messaging needs to start changing to "annual" once we go into the new year and not continue using terms like "boosting of the initial series".

This month, you have some of the earliest recipients of the post-EUA approved first doses now at the 1-year point.

I know I have posted this before but the normal vaccine development and trials process takes several years so they can nail down how many doses (if a series is needed), the intervals between them, and how long the efficacy holds up over time. However right now, we are unfortunately forced to watch this happen in "real time" due to this pandemic emergency, which is just unheard of in the scheme of vaccines because the general public generally never sees this type of thing played out in the media.

I expect the last time some of that "public awareness" happened was with the Polio vaccines (Salk and Sabin) and the smallpox vaccine (still being manufactured and given to selected populations due to occasional threats of bioterrorism). A good history about that here - https://time.com/6126442/covid-vaccine-hesitancy-polio-smallpox/

Vaccines go through trialing, they get tweaked, and they finally nail down the target groups for it, the dose amounts, frequency of use, and expected adverse reactions BEFORE they are approved and announced "publicly" for the general population.

[brer cat]

13. Very encouraging news.

[Guilded Lilly]

15. This is positive news in what is going to be a long haul battle against all forms of this virus.

[New Breed Leader]

17. I got the Moderna booster

In November after the Pfizer vax in April

[MurrayDelph]

49. I got a Moderna on top my Johnson

And from everything I've read, I wondering if I should get more Moderna.

[StevieM]

50. That's exactly what I did.

Vaccinated with Pfizer in April, boosted with Moderna in November. I wanted to get the booster shot two weeks before I went home for Thanksgiving, and thankfully was able to get it in time.

I have been hoping that the half dose of Moderna would be enough for someone who got Pfizer the fist time around.

[Scrivener7]

18. This is great, though incomplete news. It raises the antibody level by 37 fold. that means

it allows us to fight it better, but how much better? What is the effectiveness percentage?

Glad I am better protected, but I want to know how much better.

Maybe what I am asking for is behind the paywall, or maybe it will become clear as the variant spreads.

[BumRushDaShow]

22. The article was pretty short

but some more had this (I only used them because I get breaking news alerts from them and they were out with this pretty early) -

Moderna tested a third shot of several versions of its vaccine, each in 20 people. Before boosting, all the individuals had low levels of antibodies that can prevent Omicron infection. At Day 29, after receiving a third shot, the 50-microgram and 100-microgram doses of the current vaccine both sharply increased antibody levels.

The company also tested “multivalent” booster shots that incorporate mutations seen in the Beta and Delta variants, many of which are also present in Omicron. Those continuing trials each have 300 to 600 people enrolled in them. The 50-microgram and 100-microgram doses of the multivalent boosters increased antibody levels to similarly high levels, Moderna said.

Here is Moderna's actual announcement - https://investors.modernatx.com/news/news-details/2021/Moderna-Announces-Preliminary-Booster-Data-and-Updates-Strategy-to-Address-Omicron-Variant/default.aspx

The NYT attempt to "simplify" the technical jargon but here is how Moderna worded it -

Moderna Announces Preliminary Booster Data and Updates Strategy to Address Omicron Variant
December, 20, 2021

(snip)

Today’s data includes sera from 20 booster recipients each of mRNA-1273 at the 50 µg and 100 µg dose levels, multivalent candidate mRNA-1273.211 at the 50 µg and 100 µg dose levels, and multivalent candidate mRNA-1273.213 at the 100 µg dose level. Neutralizing antibodies against Omicron were assessed in a pseudovirus neutralization titer (ID50) assay (PsVNT) conducted at laboratories established by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases’ (NIAID) Vaccine Research Center at Duke University Medical Center. A preprint submission is being prepared based on the data.

All groups had low neutralizing antibody levels in the Omicron PsVNT assay prior to boosting. At day 29 post boost, the authorized 50 µg booster of mRNA-1273 increased neutralizing geometric mean titers (GMT) against Omicron to 850, which is approximately 37-fold higher than pre-boost levels. At day 29 post boost, the 100 µg dose booster of mRNA-1273 increased neutralizing GMT to 2228, which is approximately 83-fold higher than pre-boost levels. The multivalent candidates boosted Omicron specific neutralizing antibody levels to similarly high levels at both the 50 µg and 100 µg levels. Based on the strength of neutralizing titers generated by mRNA-1273, the rapid pace of Omicron expansion, and the increased complexity of deploying a new vaccine, the Company will focus its near-term efforts to address Omicron on the mRNA-1273 booster. The Company will continue to assess the breadth and durability of neutralizing antibodies from the multivalent booster candidates in the months ahead.

https://investors.modernatx.com/news/news-details/2021/Moderna-Announces-Preliminary-Booster-Data-and-Updates-Strategy-to-Address-Omicron-Variant/default.aspx

They didn't detail what the original "low" titer levels were before the boost in the above but only indicated what they were boosted to. That data will probably be released (in chart and graph formats) when they have the formal presentation. Their statement above indicated that they are having a conference call this morning at 8 am EST to talk about this (including a webcast - am not sure of that will have a live link or will only be uploaded to their site when it's done).

What was cool was when I went to their "Events & Presentations" site, I saw this from Dec. 10 with their slide deck discussing their phase 1 trial of a mRNA flu vaccine - https://s29.q4cdn.com/745959723/files/doc_presentations/2021/12/FINAL-MASTER-Flu-Interim-Analysis-(12.10_6am).pdf (PDF)

Presentations site - https://investors.modernatx.com/Events--Presentations/events-and-presentations/default.aspx

I think one of their goals is to eventually have a combination shot of mRNA COVID-19 & flu vaccines.

EDIT - Here is their presentation, just uploaded on the site (PDF) - https://s29.q4cdn.com/745959723/files/doc_presentations/2021/12/20/MASTER-Omicron-Booster-Update-Call-(12.20)_7am-(1).pdf

(you need to copy/paste the link since it isn't rendering in this message)

[Scrivener7]

23. Thank you for putting this together. That was kind of you.

How is it looking in your neck of the woods? Around here people are dropping like flies.

Well, not dropping. Testing positive. Though it does seem that most are recovering quickly.

So anecdotally, here in NY it looks like the spread is wicked but the effect, so far and among those I know of, has been handle-able.

[BumRushDaShow]

29. You are welcome!

They just uploaded their slide deck -

(Data using the current vaccine as a boost)




(Data using test combo versions of their vaccine that targets certain strains)



Regarding here in Philly, like everywhere else, our positives have been increasing post-Thanksgiving but nowhere near the rate they would have if we didn't have a mask mandate in place in the city. I know the "breakthrough" cases are much higher than with previous waves but I think it will take some time to flesh out the end results of that.

In general, at least in terms of the state of PA, Philadelphia city (county) has consistently been having one of the lowest per capita case rates in the state post-vaccine availability with mitigation put in place (like mask/vaccine mandates) given we are the largest city in the state. This has been the case since about September when the vaccine/booster/masking push really got underway, causing much consternation in the media about why we were lower (per capita) than even the surrounding counties (who don't have mask mandates).

We haven't seen any sharp increases in hospitalizations or deaths on this side of the state either. Western PA on the other hand, is at a crisis point.

[gab13by13]

19. The info that Moderna gave more antibodies is really old news,

I got the 3 shots of Moderna. After my 2nd shot I had regular blood work scheduled so I had my doctor add a Covid antibody level test, this was probably 5 months after my 2nd shot. My report came back that I still had antibodies. The thing is, was that from my 2nd shot or did I catch a mild dose of virus?

I have heard experts on TV saying they believe the protection from Omicron is good after getting the booster but they are also saying the protection may only last 3 months. It's still early in knowing about Omicron, we do know it is extremely contagious, N95 mask up.

[BumRushDaShow]

30. Their small trial was to see how the antibody boost did with Omicron

Their other boost tests had been done with their other vaccine candidates as combos that targeted the Wild type and Beta as well as a combo targeting Beta and Delta (the Beta being what was predominate in South Africa before they got hit with Delta whereas we and Europe had Alpha as predominate before Delta).

I posted the slides from the conference call that they have going on right now here - https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=2842930

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

20. Thanks! I got the 100 mcg shot in August.

While the first two shots had almost no side effects, the booster put me in bed for a day.

Small price to pay for that kind of protection.

[IronLionZion]

21. Got my Moderna booster last month

just in time for Omicron. My city is pretty well vaccinated so it should be fine here.

[obamanut2012]

24. 3x Moderna, boosted about ten days ago

Antibodies test shows mine are off the charts.

[ananda]

25. Yay! I have three full doses.

Whew

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

26. Full dosed 3rd Moderna shot a month ago, good to see its working well, thats what I wanted to hear

[tavernier]

27. Moderna x 3 for me.

Sadly my kids and grandkids got Phizers and JJs, and two of the Phizers already came down with Covid, quite seriously, Delta variety, and required monoclonal antibodies.still, they recovered with few side effects other than some arm pit boils. Apparently boils are a quite common after effect of Covid.

[lark]

31. Got my Moderna booster 3 weeks ago.

Very glad for it, even went to Walmart to get it. Of course I just got the shot and left, no purchases for me, either of the 3 times I went there for the shots.

[llashram]

33. got it

all three shots. And I still wear my mask. Thank GOD for science!!! I just tell the people whining out trump phrases, if you are able, just follow the science.

[DownriverDem]

34. Tripple vaxxed

Got Moderna and am very glad.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

35. Boosters/third shots work

I am in a study where they measure antibodies every three months. On Sept. 2 my antibody level was 79.4 on a 2500 scale. My son's antibody level was over 2500. I got a full moderna shot on Sept 7 and on Nov. 27 my antibody level was over 2500. I was amused to see someone else posted on twitter their antibody levels

Link to tweet

[BumRushDaShow]

36. ...

(sorry had to... )

[herding cats]

45. 100 micrograms if I recall correctly?

I'm thinking we were boosted on the same day. That's what I had and the end of November mine was the same! Loving my booster response to the moon and back.

[Ron Obvious]

37. Question about dosages

When I look at my shot record, I see that the first two Moderna shots I had were 0.5 ml and the booster was 0.25ml. Of course, that's volume, not weight, but is that equivalent to the 100mg/50mg dosages mentioned here?

[BumRushDaShow]

39. Yes - that's how mine was

The vials are diluted to obtain a certain concentration/ml and then the proper dosage amount is drawn and injected, depending on whether it will be a full or 1/2 dose.

So the 0.5 ml (milliters) will deliver the 100ug (micrograms) and the 0.25 ml (millilters) will deliver 50 ug (micrograms)

You don't want "mg" ("milligrams" ) of the stuff. That's too much. In our lab we would use "ug" for "micrograms" with the lowercase letter "u" approximating the Greek letter "mu" = " ? "

[Ron Obvious]

43. Thank you!

I assumed that's what it was but it's nice to have it confirmed.

Duh about the microgrammes! I knew that but was distracted. Good thing I don't work in pharmacy!

[BumRushDaShow]

44. You're welcome!

And LOL -





(and the bigger the doctor, the bigger the bill. Sorry I had to... )

[beaglelover]

38. I got a Pfizer booster after my 2 Moderna vaccines earlier this year.

Hopefully, I have some good protection going on against Omicron!

[BumRushDaShow]

40. Pfizer had reported on their booster data for Omicron on 12/8/21

Pfizer and BioNTech Provide Update on Omicron Variant

Wednesday, December 08, 2021 - 06:54am

Preliminary laboratory studies demonstrate that three doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine neutralize the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529 lineage) while two doses show significantly reduced neutralization titers

Data indicate that a third dose of BNT162b2 increases the neutralizing antibody titers by 25-fold compared to two doses against the Omicron variant; titers after the booster dose are comparable to titers observed after two doses against the wild-type virus which are associated with high levels of protection

As 80% of epitopes in the spike protein recognized by CD8+ T cells are not affected by the mutations in the Omicron variant, two doses may still induce protection against severe disease

The companies continue to advance the development of a variant-specific vaccine for Omicron and expect to have it available by March in the event that an adaption is needed to further increase the level and duration of protection – with no change expected to the companies’ four billion dose capacity for 2022

(snip)

https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-provide-update-omicron-variant

(emphasis mine)

I would think that in the case of a Pfizer booster after 2 Modernas, the effect would probably be a net amount higher than boosting after 2 Pfizers, mainly because some of the data was showing that Pfizer's efficacy was waning a bit faster than Moderna's, so with 2 Modernas, your antibody level would probably already be starting a bit higher at boost time.

I still haven't seen any explanation regarding the differences which could either be due to Moderna using a much higher amount of the active biologic per shot (100 ug) than Pfizer (30 ug) or whether it had to do with the timing between shots (Moderna had a 28 day interval between doses vs Pfizer's 21 day interval) or whether one active entity was a better fit for the current versions of the virus.

[beaglelover]

41. Thank you for the information.

[BumRushDaShow]

42. You're welcome!

[roamer65]

47. Full dose x 3 here.

I should be good for the rest of the winter.

[LisaL]

48. Me two.

Three full doses of Moderna.

[roamer65]

51. Called my pharmacy to verify.

Third dose was .5 mL

We are about as prepared as we can be, Lisa.