The 4 vaccines licensed in Europe are effective against the delta variant

• The EMA calls on governments to accelerate vaccination among the elderly and vulnerable people

• The decision on the authorization of the Moderna vaccine in adolescents will arrive at the end of July

–

The four vaccines against covid-19 authorized so far by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) -Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca y Johnson&Johnson– protect against all coronavirus variants circulating in the European Union. According to the EMA’s director of vaccine strategy, Marco Cavaleri, the first available real data suggest that the complete regimen also protects against Delta variant, which spreads extremely rapidly, while laboratory data show that antibodies produced by approved vaccines neutralize this variant as well.

For this reason, Cavaleri has asked all European governments to speed up vaccination and maintain public health measures against the virus. “It is important to ensure that the elderly and vulnerable complete the vaccination as soon as possible so that they are protected against the spread of the delta variant,” he explained, aware of the “concern” generated by this variant. The European regulator has also asked manufacturers to investigate whether their vaccines work against new emerging variants of the virus and is in contact with laboratories about the possible administration of a booster dose to determine the best schedule and the best strategy.

Booster dose in the air

At this time, however, “it is not clear whether a booster dose will be necessary for the covid-19 vaccines to maintain their protection,” said Cavaleri, who explained that the agency will review the safety data and the immune response. in people who have received the third dose and the second in the case of the Johnson & Johnson single-dose antidote. In all, new variants could emerge in the coming months, hence the importance of maintaining “close surveillance” and monitoring the efficacy of approved vaccines.

Regarding the use of different vaccines in the immunization strategy, for example the administration of a first dose of AstraZeneca and a second of Pfizer as has occurred in Spain, the EMA is not yet in a position to make “a definitive recommendation” although interim studies in Spain, Germany and the UK show “a good immune response and no safety concerns” and has historically been successful with other vaccines.

Related news

The EMA has also confirmed that the schedule is being maintained and that it hopes to conclude the review on the use of the vaccine. Modern in adolescents between 12 and 17 years old “at the end of July”. If authorized, it will become the second antidote, after Pfizer / BioNTech, to receive the green light for minors. The agency has also confirmed this Thursday that it will continue to evaluate the data of the vaccine developed by the German laboratory CureVac whose effectiveness is limited to 48%.

Precisely this Friday, the pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson has published some studies in which the efficacy of its vaccine against the Delta variant is demonstrated.

– .