The omicron variant of COVID-19 has led to a surge of circumstances and hospitalizations and brought on medical consultants to debate yearly COVID booster pictures and variant-specific vaccines. However what if there have been a common coronavirus vaccine that protected in opposition to omicron and all new COVID-19 variants?
A number of establishments are researching “pan-coronavirus” vaccines, and main well being organizations are talking loudly concerning the want, however the US Military is the primary to display optimistic trial outcomes for a common coronavirus vaccine.
The Military not too long ago introduced that its pan-coronavirus vaccine, the spike ferritin nanoparticle COVID-19 vaccine (aka SpFN) had accomplished Part 1 of human trials. Publication of the outcomes is predicted in January, relying on the completion of the official information evaluation.
Dr. Kayvon Modjarrad, director of infectious illnesses at Walter Reed Military Institute of Analysis (WRAIR) and co-inventor of SpFN, instructed Protection One, “We’re testing our vaccine in opposition to all of the completely different variants, together with omicron,” the pressure inflicting breakthrough infections even in individuals who have obtained booster pictures.
We’ll share what we find out about pan-coronavirus vaccines and the Military’s COVID-19 vaccine, together with the way it works and when it may change into accessible.
For extra, study free at-home COVID checks, why you should not “simply get COVID over with,” mixing and matching booster pictures, and the distinction between N95, KN95, and KF94 masks.
Why do we’d like a pan-coronavirus vaccine?
White Home Chief Medical Adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci has not too long ago touted the significance of a common vaccine to guard in opposition to all COVID variants. At a White Home press briefing Wednesday, Fauci once more pressured “the pressing want of a common coronavirus vaccine.”
Fauci declared that, “progressive approaches are wanted to induce broad and sturdy safety in opposition to coronaviruses which are identified and a few which are even at this level unknown. Therefore, the terminology ‘pan-coronavirus vaccine.'”
The Nationwide Institute of Allergy and Infectious Ailments dedicated massive to that aim in fall 2021, awarding $36.3 million to a few tutorial organizations — Duke College, College of Wisconsin, and Boston’s Brigham and Ladies’s Hospital — to develop and analysis pan-coronavirus vaccines. CalTech additionally has introduced good early outcomes for its common “mosaic nanoparticle” vaccine.
In a Jan. 11 advisory assertion on the omicron variant, the World Well being Group declared that, “a vaccination technique primarily based on repeated booster doses of the unique vaccine composition is unlikely to be acceptable or sustainable” and pressured the pressing want for a vaccine that provides long-lasting safety with out boosters.
What’s the US Military COVID vaccine?
The three COVID-19 vaccines approved proper now to be used within the US take two approaches to stopping an infection: The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use mRNA to construct up immunity, whereas the Johnson & Johnson vaccine makes use of a innocent rhinovirus to coach the physique’s immune system to answer COVID.
The Spike Ferritin Nanoparticle COVID-19 vaccine, or SpFN, takes a 3rd strategy, utilizing a innocent portion of the COVID-19 virus to spur the physique’s defenses in opposition to COVID.
SpFN additionally has much less restrictive storage and dealing with necessities than the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, permitting it for use in a greater diversity of conditions. It may be saved between 36 and 46 levels Fahrenheit for as much as six months and at room temperature for as much as one month, in accordance with army scientists. Pfizer’s vaccine requires an ultracold freezer (between minus 112 and minus 76 levels F) for cargo and storage and is just secure for 31 days when saved in a fridge.
The Military’s vaccine has been examined with two pictures, 28 days aside, and in addition with a 3rd shot after six months.
How does the Military vaccine work in opposition to COVID-19 and different coronaviruses?
The vaccines from Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson all goal the particular virus — SARS-CoV-2 — that causes COVID-19. However Military scientists designed their vaccine to guard in opposition to future strains of COVID in addition to different coronaviruses.
The Military’s SpFN vaccine is formed like a soccer ball with 24 faces. Scientists can connect the spikes of a number of coronavirus strains to every of the completely different faces, permitting them to customise the vaccine for any new COVID variants that come up.
“The accelerating emergence of human coronaviruses all through the previous twenty years and the rise of SARS-CoV-2 variants, together with most not too long ago omicron, underscore the continued want for next-generation preemptive vaccines that confer broad safety in opposition to coronavirus illnesses,” Modjarrad stated in a December assertion. “Our technique has been to develop a ‘pan-coronavirus’ vaccine expertise that might probably supply secure, efficient and sturdy safety in opposition to a number of coronavirus strains and species.”
When will the Army’s COVID vaccine be available?
No date has been set. SpFN successfully completed animal testing and wrapped Phase 1 of human trials in December, but it must still complete Phases 2 and 3 of human testing, when its safety and efficacy is compared to current vaccine options.
Normally, completing all three phases can take up to five years, but the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic is speeding up the process. The Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, for example, were tested, reviewed and authorized by the Food and Drug Administration over the course of one year.
What happens next with the Army SpFN vaccine?
According to a WRAIR spokesperson, “researchers have devoted their full attention to analyzing the Phase 1 data and writing a report of the results.” The report could come in the next few weeks or even months.
After data from the Phase 1 human trials is published, Phase 2 and 3 trials will begin. There is very little information so far on when or how those trials will proceed or if the phases will overlap.
To follow the progress of the Army vaccine trials, visit the SpFN COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker provided by the US Army Medical Research and Development Command.
For more on COVID-19, here’s what we know about how the CDC defines being fully vaccinated, how to store your vaccine card on your phone, and what we still don’t know about the virus after two years.
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.