EMA can approve new vaccine for Omicron in 3-4 months
The EU drug regulator (EMA) said it could approve vaccines adapted to target the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in three to four months, but existing vaccines will continue to provide protection.
The European Union (EU) drug regulator EMA made a statement about the newly emerged corona virus variant Omicron.
The EMA reported that it could approve vaccines adapted to target the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, if needed, within three to four months.
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The drug regulator, who also made a statement about the current vaccines, stated that the vaccines used will continue to provide protection.
Speaking to the European Parliament, Emer Cooke, executive director of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), said that drug manufacturers do not know if they need to change their vaccines to protect against Omicron, but EMA is preparing for this possibility.
“If there is a need to replace existing vaccines, we could be approved in three to four months,” said Cooke. “Companies that adapt their formulations to include the new sequence will then have to demonstrate that the production system works, then do some clinical trials to determine if it actually works in practice.” They will stay,” he said.
In a separate statement, EMA stated that the review will begin once drug manufacturers decide that they need to change the vaccine and start working on it.