Do COVID-19 Boosters Shots Deliver Benefits

As the U.S. and Europe extend authorizations for most people to get a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose in 2021, there is growing confusion on main-street.

People everywhere want protection from the current Delta virus surge and future safeguards against the approaching Omicron variant.

Most public health experts agree on one thing: now is the time to get a ‘booster.’

But is a booster a second, third, or fourth dose?

How potent are COVID-19 boosters?

And when will variant-specific vaccines become available?

One of the global leaders in COVID-19 vaccines is tackling these questions by offering free webinars for professionals and publishing patient-facing information people can understand.

Moderna Inc. is digitally hosting a series of webinars this week for vaccination providers to learn more about the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine booster dose, which has been Authorized, but not Approved by the U.S. FDA for use in the United States.

By clicking on this free webinar registration link, vaccine providers can easily enroll in one of the times and days (Dec 7th thru the 10th) that best meets their needs. 

And for patients with questions about primary, booster, dosage, and mixing-matching, Moderna has published the following information.

Primary series: Each primary series dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine is 0.5 mL. The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine is administered as a primary series of two doses (0.5 mL each) 1 month apart to individuals 18 years of age or older. 

A third primary series dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (0.5 mL) at least one month following the second dose is authorized for administration to individuals at least 18 years of age who have undergone solid organ transplantation or who are diagnosed with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromise. 

Booster Dose: The booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine is 0.25 mL. A single Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine booster dose (0.25 mL) may be administered intramuscularly at least six months after completing a primary series of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine to individuals 18 years of age or older. 

And a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine (0.25 mL) may be administered as a heterologous booster dose following completion of primary vaccination with another authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine. 

The dosing interval for the heterologous booster dose is the same as that authorized for a booster dose of the vaccine used for primary vaccination.

Furthermore, to address SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, Moderna announced its plans on November 26, 2021. They began preparations in early 2021 to advance a vaccine strategy anticipating new virus variants.

• First, Moderna has already tested a higher dose booster of SpikeVax (mRNA-1273) (100 µg) in healthy adults.
• Second, Moderna is studying two multi-valent booster candidates in clinics designed to anticipate mutations such as those that have emerged in the Omicron variant.
• Third, Moderna is advancing an Omicron-specific booster candidate (mRNA-1273.529). 

This vaccine candidate is part of the strategy to advance variant-specific candidates for a subset of variants of significant concern.

“For several days, we have been moving as fast as possible to execute our strategy to address this variant,” commented Stéphane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, in a recent press statement.

“The mutations in the Omicron variant are concerning.”

After attending a Moderna webinar, or reading through the new information, if you have further questions, the Moderna Call Center is available from 8 am to 8 pm EST, Monday through Friday, and can be reached at 1-866-MODERNA (1-866-663-3762).

PrecisionVaccinations publishes fact-check research-based vaccine news.