(Image via CPAC.) Health Canada has approved Moderna’s new COVID vaccine that offers greater protection against the Omicron variant. The bivalent vaccine targets the original strain of COVID-19 and the new Omicron variant. Until now, the highly contagious variant has been effective at bypassing the body’s immune response. Health Canada’s chief medical advisor, Dr. Supriya Sharma, says they are working to ensure the best possible protection for all Canadians. “To ensure they have as many options as possible to address current and future variants,” says Sharma, “we reached out to both Pfizer Biotech and Moderna to ask for vaccine submissions that specifically target BA.4 and B.A. 5 subvariants.” He admits the virus is constantly mutating and the virus will always be one step ahead, but officials are closing the gap. The federal government has already purchased 12 million doses of the new vaccine for distribution this fall.
