The first Covid-19 vaccine to target the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants has been recommended for approval by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
he BA.5 strain is the dominant form of Covid-19 circulating in Ireland currently.
The recommendation will now go to the European Commission and it is expected to give the green light very shortly.
The EMA recently recommended approval of the Covid-19 vaccine targeting the BA.1 strain, which was circulating widely earlier this year.
It said the recommendation of the Pfizer BA.4 and BA.5 form of vaccine “will further extend the arsenal of available vaccines to protect people against Covid-19 as the pandemic continues and new waves of infections are anticipated in the cold season”.
BA.4-5 is for use in people aged 12 years and above who have received at least a primary course of vaccination against Covid-19. It also targets the original Wuhan strain of the virus.
The EMA said vaccines are adapted to better match the circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2 and are expected to provide broader protection against different variants.
Ireland is part of a European Commission procurement process and the first supplies are likely to be here next month or in November.
The EMA said the original Pfizer vaccine, which is being used here currently, is still effective at preventing severe disease, hospitalisation and death associated with Covid-19.
It said it will continue to be used within vaccination campaigns in the EU, in particular for primary vaccinations.
Last week, the EMA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said the new vaccines should be directed as a priority to people who are more at risk of severe disease because of certain risk factors.
National authorities in the EU member states will determine who should receive which vaccines and when, taking into account factors such as infection and hospitalisation rates, the risk to vulnerable populations, vaccination coverage and vaccine availability.
The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (Niac) will provide the guidelines on their use here to the Department of Health.
Adapted vaccines work in the same way as the original vaccines by preparing the body to defend itself against Covid-19.
Earlier this month, the EMA endorsed both Pfizer and Moderna’s BA.1 updated vaccines.
EU officials signalled in recent months they were open to initially using shots targeting the older BA.1 variant, given those specifically targeting newer Omicron offshoots BA.4/5 are further behind in development.
In contrast, the US Food and Drug Administration insisted it was only interested in vaccines targeting BA.4/5.
Last week, Pfizer and Moderna secured US approval for those.
