Moderna highlights Importance of Updated COVID-19 Vaccination for Seniors as Cases Rise
Seoul,โฃ southโ Korea – As COVID-19 hospitalizations haveโข increased for three consecutive months, โคwith 60% of โขthose hospitalized being over theโข age of 65, medical expertsโค are emphasizing the continued needโ for vaccination, particularly for vulnerableโฃ populations. Moderna Korea recently heldโ a press conference to discussโ preventative strategies and the importance of protecting high-risk groupsโข using mRNAโ technology.
Professor Lee Jae-gap ofโข the infection Department at Gangnam Sacred Heart Hospital stressed that COVID-19 can lead to long-term health issues, including fatigue and cognitive decline, in addition to severe illness. “it is โimportant to inoculate newโ vaccines every year to โmaintain immunity,” he stated.
Dr. Francescaโ Sedia,Chief Medical Officer of Moderna,presented the company’s mRNA-based vaccine strategy and vision for future โinfectious โdisease response,focusing on protecting high-risk individuals. She highlighted the โคconsistent global recognition of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines.
“Moderna’s Coronaโ 19 vaccines have been consistently confirmed by โฃthe world,” Dr.Sedia said. Sheโฃ also โpointed โto study results demonstrating that simultaneousโ vaccination with both the flu vaccineโข and Moderna’s COVID-19 โvaccine maintains highโข immunogenicity โand safety profiles, similar to single vaccinations, making it a valuable strategy for โhigh-risk โฃgroup protection.
Moderna’sโ vaccines have demonstrated strong efficacy and safety through large-scale Phaseโฃ 3 clinical trials andโข real-world evidence โค(RWE). Notably, the immune responseโค in individuals โคaged 65 and older was comparable to that of younger adults.
This season’s updated Spikevax vaccine isโฃ specifically designedโ to elicit a โrobust immune response against the currently circulating COVID-19 โฃvariant, LP.8.1. Preliminary Phase 4 clinical analysis shows that the vaccine increased neutralizing antibodies against LP.8.1 more than eight-fold in โฃindividualsโ aged 12-64 and 65 and older.The vaccine is also expected to provide immune protection against other prevalent variants, including NB.1.8.1โ and XFG.
Kim Sang-pyo, CEO of โคModerna Korea, affirmedโฃ the company’s commitment to prioritizing the protection of high-risk โขgroups, particularly those aged 65 and older. “Moderna will actively support โthe government and medical โfields to ensure that the seasonal โvaccination projects can be carried out without any disruption,”โข heโ said.
The Korean government’s 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccination โprogram, launching October 15th, will prioritize seniors agedโข 65 andโฃ older. Even for those previously vaccinated, officials recommend receiving a new vaccination โคdue to the ongoing evolution of the COVID-19 virus and the need for protection against current circulating strains. The โupdated vaccine isโฃ recommended toโข be effective for the โฃcurrent popular variation.
(Photo: fromโ left) Dr. Francesca Sedia, the chief medical officer, andโค professor Lee Jae -gap of the Infections of Gangnam โคSacred Heart Hospital.
Source: Medi:Gate News, Park Do-young