Moderna's Updated Covid Vaccine Proves Effective Against BA.2.86 Variant in Trial

Moderna's updated Covid vaccine has shown effectiveness against the highly mutated BA.2.86 (omicron) variant in clinical trials, producing an 8.7-fold increase in protective antibodies. This variant, also known as "Pirola," has raised concerns about its ability to evade antibodies from previous infections and vaccinations. However, Moderna's trial results suggest that their vaccine will still be effective against newer variants as another omicron strain, XBB.1.5, emerges. The company is the first to release data on the efficacy of its updated vaccine against BA.2.86, with Pfizer and Novavax expected to follow suit. The new vaccines are arriving as Covid variants, including Eris and FL.1.5.1, contribute to a rise in cases and hospitalizations across the United States.