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Covid-19 booster vaccines should leave out original spike protein

The first covid-19 vaccines were based on the spike protein from the original virus, but including this in boosters may be hindering immunity to newer variants

By Michael Le Page

22 May 2023

Covid-19 vaccines were originally designed for a version of the virus that no longer exists

solarseven/iStockphoto/G​etty Images

Vaccine-makers should stop including the spike protein of the original SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus in covid-19 booster jabs to make them more effective against current variants, a study of antibody responses has concluded.

The first covid-19 vaccines were based on a SARS-CoV-2 genome sequence from Wuhan, China, made public on 11 January 2020. From this, researchers determined the sequence of the spike protein on the outside of the virus and started creating vaccines based on it. Moderna …

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