Moderna Says Its Existing COVID-19 Booster Appears Protective Against Omicron

A vial of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine rests on a table at a clinic in Puyallup, Wash., on March 4, 2021. Ted S. Warren/AP Photo

Moderna said on Dec. 20 that its existing COVID-19 vaccine booster shot sharply increased Omicron neutralizing antibody levels in laboratory testing, with the drugmaker adding that it continues to work on an Omicron-specific booster.

The company said in a statement that its currently authorized 50 microgram dose booster of its mRNA-1273 vaccine increased Omicron neutralizing antibody levels 37-fold, while a not-yet-approved 100 microgram dose booster raised them 83-fold.