Moderna hopes to get a booster shot for its two doses of Covid vaccine in the fall, CEO Stephane Bancel told CNBC on Wednesday.
“I want to make sure that boost vaccines are available in the fall so that we protect people as we enter the next fall and winter season in the US,” Bancel said in an interview on “Squawk Box.”
Last month, the National Institutes of Health began testing a variety of offerings from Moderna to use as a third injection designed to bolster immunity protection as concerns grow about emerging variants – including the variant that was first introduced. discovered in South Africa, also known as the B.1.351. variant.
The Food and Drug Administration’s approach to approving modified Covid vaccines is similar to annual flu vaccines, meaning they can be approved for emergency use without lengthy clinical trials.
Massachusetts-based Moderna hopes to provide data to regulators within a few months, Bancel added. “Our goal is to work really hard to get this done before fall,” he repeated.
Bancel’s comments came a day after Moderna announced that its existing vaccine was more than 90% effective at protecting against Covid up to six months after the second dose. It was more than 95% effective against serious diseases within the same time frame, the biotech company said in its update, which could bring it closer to getting full regulatory approval.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 453 cases of the B.1.351 variant have currently been reported. That variant, in particular, has worried public health experts. It has been shown to decrease the effectiveness of existing Covid vaccines, including Moderna.
Bancel reiterated his belief on Wednesday that annual Covid vaccine boosters will be commonplace in the future, saying the coronavirus “won’t go away” and “won’t leave the planet.”
“I expect to see many variants in the coming year. But as more and more people are vaccinated or naturally infected, the rate of the variant will slow and the virus will stabilize.” as you see with the flu, ”Bancel said.
Ultimately, he added, Moderna hopes to be able to have some kind of two-in-one vaccine that protects against seasonal flu and Covid. The company announced its intention to create a flu vaccine in September.
“Basically what we’re trying to do at Moderna is try to get a flu vaccine in the clinic this year and then combine our flu vaccine with our Covid vaccine, so you only have to get one boost at your local CVS store … every year you would protect against the Covid care variant and the seasonal flu, ”said Bancel.
“We think we can get a high efficacy flu vaccine,” he added. According to the CDC, current flu vaccines are about between 40% -60% effective in any given year.
Bancel also weighed in on US regulators Tuesday recommending that states discontinue use of Johnson & Johnson’s one-time Covid vaccine after concerns were raised about rare but serious blood clots developing in recipients.
The move shows that “the FDA will not hesitate to be very careful in analyzing the data, to take the time it takes to protect the safety of the American people,” he said, arguing that the way regulators deal with the J&J situation would not increase hesitation to reduce vaccinations.