Moderna vaccine remains 93% effective against symptomatic COVID at 6 months

By The Big Magazine Staff

Moderna says its vaccine is 93% effective against symptomatic illness at six months (though this data collection ended before delta emerged in the U.S.). Moderna said its booster candidates also demonstrate robust antibody responses to variants of concern, including delta. Company President Dr. Stephen Hoge told “Good Morning America” Thursday that the Moderna vaccine offers protection from delta right after receiving it, but it’s not known yet if that’ll hold up through the winter. He called winter “the biggest test of that vaccine which is why we need to be vigilant and careful.”

Moderna President Dr. Stephen Hoge spoke with “GMA” after the company announced their COVID-19 vaccine offers durable protection six months out. Hoge said he thinks booster shots will be needed and that the company is “preparing options,” but he added that that’ll be for public health officials, not the company, to decide. He also noted that Moderna’s goal is to be vaccinating kids under 12 by the end of the year. Moderna isn’t authorized for kids ages 12 to 17 yet, but Hoge hopes authorization could come “any day.”