Fresh COVID vaccines could come to Australia. Here’s what you need to know about the JN.1 vaccines

COVID-19 vaccines have undoubtedly made a huge difference during this pandemic. For example, it is estimated that COVID vaccinations Since their introduction in December 2020, they have saved more than 1.4 million lives in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region alone.

Unfortunately, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID) is changing quite rapidly, which is affecting how well our immunity from both vaccination and past infection protects us. This problem is often referred to as “avoiding resistance”.

One strategy to address this issue has been to update our vaccines, which we have done four times in Australia. Now the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is considering a fifth version of a COVID vaccine – a shot aimed at JN.1 omicron subvariant.

Here’s what you need to know about these updated amplifiers.

Keeping up with COVID variants

Our first vaccines were directed against the original strain of SARS-CoV-2. first update still in the set original strain but we added an early subvariant of the BA.1 omicron. Then changed BA.1 to BA.4/5 With original strain.

This latest update took place at the end of 2023, when we returned to possession only one ingredient in the vaccine, in this case omicron subvariant XBB.1.5.

The virus continues to change. Another omicron subvariant, JN.1, was first detected in August 2023 and caused a significant wave of infections in Australia in the summer.

JN.1 then gave way to other sub-variants that you may know as “Flirt“and the “FLuQE” variants that have been observed relatively large increase in COVID activity in recent months. FLuQE, or KP.3, is currently dominant.

Although JN.1 no longer causes many cases, given that FLiRT and FLuQE are derived from JN.1, vaccines targeting JN.1 should good job to protect against these newer subvariants.

What is the process?

Already in April, WHO recommended the utilize of vaccines against JN.1 line based on the expectation that the virus will continue to evolve from JN.1. European Medicines Agency issued the same recommendation.

Potentially, from the point at which it became clear that JN.1 was going to become the dominant vaccine, but certainly from that point on, pharmaceutical companies would have started working to refine their vaccines accordingly.

Once vaccines are ready and tested, they must be applied to the appropriate regulatory authorities for approval.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Emergency Use Authorization regarding Novavax’s vaccine against JN.1.

Meanwhile, the UK regulatory body has approved the JN.1 specification Spikevax by Moderna AND Comirnats from Pfizer.

In Australia our process is slightly different and takes a little longer. TGA website indicates that applications for two JN.1 vaccines are currently under review (Spikevax and Comirnaty). We won’t know when they will be approved until a decision is made, but we hope it’s not too far off.

The United States has also approved KP.2 vaccines.

In June, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended that vaccine manufacturers: update your COVID vaccines to refer JN.1. However, he later recommended that it would be better to utilize vaccines to combat the KP.2 strain instead (FLiRT).

Moderna and Pfizer have said they will be able to develop vaccines targeting KP.2, and the FDA has given its approval. Emergency Use Authorization for the KP.2 vaccines of these two companies.

It seems likely that the difference between a JN.1 booster and a KP.2 booster will be minimal. Both should provide significantly improved protection against the currently circulating subvariants compared with the XBB vaccines. So we shouldn’t feel like we’re missing out by not having plans for KP.2 boosters in Australia at this time.

Are the novel vaccines secure and effective?

Before approving updated boosters, regulators are carefully analyzing data on the immune response produced by the novel vaccines against newer variants compared with previous vaccines.

Based on data generated mainly by vaccine manufacturers, it appears that the updated JN.1 vaccines lead to significantly improved immune response against multiple related sublineages, including KP.2 and KP.3, when compared to XBB vaccines.

These latest updates are not expected to change the well-established security profile COVID vaccines. But as always, the safety of vaccines (and their effectiveness) will be continue to be monitored even after they have been approved and implemented.

What about Novavax?

The COVID vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are mRNA vaccines. They work by instructing our bodies to make the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins (the proteins on the surface of the virus that it uses to attach to our cells). Then, when we encounter SARS-CoV-2, our immune system is ready to respond.

This Novavax injection Is adjuvant protein based vaccinemeaning the proteins are produced in a lab, and an ingredient called an adjuvant is added to improve the body’s immune response. Vaccines using this type of technology have been available for some time, so it’s considered a more customary way of making a vaccine.

While our mRNA options work well, there are people who I can’t have it or you don’t want an mRNA vaccine, so Novavax provides an crucial alternative option.

However, Novavax’s improved booster vaccine does not yet appear to be available for utilize before the TGA, so it is likely to take some time in Australia.

Some challenges remain

While we are proud to have successfully updated our vaccines, ideally we would like to develop vaccines that do not need to be updated as frequently.

But perhaps the most crucial factor in determining a vaccine’s effectiveness is its uptake, and right now, the rate of people getting booster doses of the COVID vaccine is far lower than it should be.

For example, from August only 31.8% of people aged 75 and over have received a COVID vaccine in the last six months (recommended) every six months in this age group).

We also need to look for ways to approve updated COVID vaccines faster and effectively in this country, including non-mRNA options.