Bivalent mRNA boosters offer extra COVID-19 protection, RWE shows

Updated, bivalent mRNA COVID-19 booster vaccines provide added protection against symptomatic illness, according to real-world evidence published by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The research follows on from findings that the original monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were less effective against symptomatic infection during the period of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant predominance.

On September 1 this year, bivalent COVID-19 mRNA vaccines, composed of components from the SARS-CoV-2 ancestral and Omicron BA.4/BA.5 strains, were recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, to address reduced effectiveness of COVID-19 monovalent vaccines against Omicron.