U.K. Approves , Vaccine Booster , That Targets Omicron.<br />The United Kingdom has become the first country <br />to approve vaccine boosters specifically designed <br />to counter the omicron variant of COVID-19.<br />The United Kingdom has become the first country <br />to approve vaccine boosters specifically designed <br />to counter the omicron variant of COVID-19.<br />NPR reports that the decision paves <br />the way for people in the U.K. to receive <br />their shots early in the fall season.<br />The Moderna vaccine booster is "bivalent," <br />meaning that it combines two <br />different versions of the vaccine.<br />Half of the mix is aimed at the original strain <br />of COVID, while the other half is formulated <br />to fight the original omicron variant.<br />What this bivalent vaccine gives us <br />is a sharpened tool in our armory to <br />help protect us against this disease <br />as the virus continues to evolve, Dr. June Raine, Head of the U.K.'s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, via NPR.<br />What this bivalent vaccine gives us <br />is a sharpened tool in our armory to <br />help protect us against this disease <br />as the virus continues to evolve, Dr. June Raine, Head of the U.K.'s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, via NPR.<br />According to researchers in the U.K., the omicron <br />booster "triggers a strong immune response" that defends <br />against both the 2020 strain of COVID and omicron.<br />According to researchers in the U.K., the omicron <br />booster "triggers a strong immune response" that defends <br />against both the 2020 strain of COVID and omicron.<br />NPR points out that the combo booster differs <br />from the omicron-specific booster which officials <br />in the United States hope to roll out this fall.<br />The U.S. FDA has requested vaccine developers to target later omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5.<br />Those two strains currently make <br />up a majority of cases in the U.S.<br />According to NPR, officials hope to authorize omicron-specific boosters by mid-September
