After the World Health Organization warned that new epidemiological mutations could emerge in the coming weeks after the end of summer, the European Medicines Agency has sounded the alarm about brand new mutations that could emerge this winter.
According to Al Arabiya Net, vaccine officials at European agencies do not rule out that the upcoming new mutants will be closer to the main Omicron strain, which has now been largely surpassed by PI types 4 and 5.
However, despite the warnings, the agency announced that currently available vaccines should prevent acute illness or death.
The developments come as EU countries prepare to launch a booster vaccine campaign against Covid, ahead of a potential wave of infections later this year.
In addition to the original vaccine developed to fight the virus, the vaccines include a mix of the currently licensed Omicron vaccine, according to the European agency.
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However, Marco Cavalieri, the European agency's official in charge of vaccines, warned that people should not wait for a special vaccine, adding that an entirely new mutation is emerging that we cannot anticipate today.
He also said that these new and improved Omicron vaccines will be widely used in booster doses for the elderly, vulnerable groups, pregnant women and health workers.
Instead, the general public will get the original vaccine designed to fight the Wuhan strain.
Cavalieri noted that the original vaccines were still able to prevent severe Covid-19 and death, even if they were less effective at preventing infection.
Notably, the European Medicines Agency on Thursday approved improved vaccines from Pfizer/Piontech and Moderna designed to combat Omicron's old PI1 mutant.
Vaccines developed by Pfizer against BI 4 and 5 strains are expected to be licensed in mid-September, while Moderna is developing a similar vaccine.
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