At just over 0.2 per cent, the country’s death rate also remains among the lowest globally
The US pharmaceutical company Moderna said on Friday it will develop a booster shot against the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
It is one of three strategies the company is working to address the new threat, including a higher dose of its existing vaccine, Moderna said.
"The mutations in the Omicron variant are concerning and for several days, we have been moving as fast as possible to execute our strategy to address this variant," said Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel.
Studies for two booster candidates to anticipate mutations similar to the Omicron Covid-19 variant are already underway.
The Omicron Covid-19 variant was found first in South Africa this week.
Sputnik quoted Moderna as saying: “Moderna is already studying two multi-valent booster candidates in the clinic that were designed to anticipate mutations such as those that have emerged in the Omicron variant.”
ALSO READ:
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Saturday named the new Covid-19 variant B.1.1.529, which has been detected in South Africa, as ‘Omicron’.
The epidemiological situation in South Africa has been characterised by three distinct peaks in reported cases, the latest of which was predominantly the Delta variant, the WHO informed in a statement.
At just over 0.2 per cent, the country’s death rate also remains among the lowest globally
Over 179 million PCR tests have been conducted in the country so far
The announcement coincides with a drop in the number of registered coronavirus cases
Over 178.6 million PCR tests have been conducted in the country so far
A total of at least eight cities and towns say their residents must not go beyond where they live
City health officials warn infections could hit 8,000 in the coming weeks
Foreigners who want to leave must test negative in five PCR tests over seven days
Over 178.6 million PCR tests have been conducted in the country so far