US to Launch 'BA.5-Targeted' Vaccine Within Weeks... When Will It Arrive in Korea?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] An updated vaccine targeting the Omicron BA.5 variant is expected to be released in the United States in a few weeks. While health authorities are monitoring the development status of the BA.5 updated vaccine, the approval decision for the vaccine targeting BA.1 is expected by the end of this month.

On the 18th (local time), Ashish Jha, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator, stated, "The vaccines to be released within a few weeks have been specially designed to respond to the current virus situation and are expected to be available to all Americans aged 12 and older," adding, "The vaccines will be available in early to mid-September."

Currently, most countries including South Korea have experienced a resurgence as BA.5 became the dominant strain. In the second week of this month, the BA.5 detection rate in South Korea was 87.9%, and the United States shows a similar rate of about 89%. Japan is currently experiencing the highest number of new cases worldwide due to the spread of BA.5. Pfizer and Moderna have started developing updated vaccines targeting BA.5, but no products have been released yet.

The vaccines targeting BA.1, which led the global outbreak including South Korea from February to March, have been developed by Pfizer and Moderna and are awaiting approval in several countries. On the 15th, the United Kingdom became the first to approve Moderna's Omicron-specific updated vaccine, 'Moderna Spikevax bivalent 2-dose,' for booster shots (additional vaccinations) in adults.

Both vaccines were developed targeting BA.1 but have shown effectiveness against BA.5 as well. Moderna measured neutralizing antibody responses one month after administering the Moderna Spikevax bivalent 2-dose as a fourth dose to participants who had completed three doses of the vaccine, showing a 6.3-fold preventive effect against BA.4 and BA.5 compared to those with three doses. Pfizer also announced in a clinical trial conducted in June that its updated vaccine was somewhat less effective against BA.1 but showed effectiveness against BA.4 and BA.5.

In South Korea, the review for the BA.1-targeting vaccine has also begun. Moderna applied for preliminary review to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on the 20th of last month, and Pfizer did so on the 5th of this month. In Moderna's case, the product approval review by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has been underway since the 29th of last month. Typically, drug approval reviews take an average of more than 180 days, but COVID-19 vaccines and treatments are subject to expedited review and can be reviewed within 40 days.

Health authorities stated that they will announce matters related to the approval of Moderna's bivalent vaccine by the end of this month and are monitoring the progress of the updated vaccine targeting BA.5. Lim Eum-gi, Head of the Vaccination Management Division at the COVID-19 Vaccination Response Promotion Team, said, "We plan to announce the effectiveness and quarantine situation of Moderna's bivalent vaccine comprehensively by the end of August," adding, "Pfizer and Moderna are also developing BA.5-based vaccines, and we will continuously monitor the progress and prepare vaccination plans accordingly to provide guidance."