Pfizer begins study on omicron vaccine

Pfizer announced on Jan. 25, they have begun a study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of an omicron-based vaccine candidate in healthy adults 18 through 55 years of age.

The study will include more than 1,400 individuals. Many have already received the initial series of COVID-19 vaccines and will be administered the omicron variant vaccine as a booster. 

Vaccine manufacturers have been making an effort to update their vaccines should world leaders call for a change in tactics to get ahead of the virus that has killed more than 869,000 Americans. 

Currently in Sheridan County there are 248 active cases of the virus in the greater SC community. The county’s death toll resulting from the virus stands at 63. Ten residents are hospitalized battling the effects of the virus.  

In a release, Pfizer stated that clinical and real-world data continue to find people who are vaccinated, particularly those that have received a booster, maintain a high level of protection against omicron, particularly against severe disease and hospitalization. 

The company along with its European counterpart, BioNtech had previously announced that they expect to produce four billion doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine in 2022. This goal number is not expected to change if an adapted vaccine is required.