BioNTech ready to develop new vaccine against omicron strain in 100 days

The German company BioNTech, which has developed a coronavirus vaccine together with its US partner Pfizer, is ready to adapt its vaccine to the omicron strain, director-general and co-founder of the pharmaceutical company Ugur Shahin said on December 3, Report informs referring to TASS.

He noted that the creation of a new vaccine, if necessary, will take about 100 days.

Shahin stressed that, according to preliminary data, the omicron strain can infect vaccinated people, but the drugs used can protect against the severe course of the disease. “We expected a similar virus to emerge in the beginning of next year. It came a little earlier,” said BioNTech CEO.

On November 26, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the strain of coronavirus B.1.1.529, found in southern Africa, with the Greek letter omicron.