Markets jolted as Moderna says COVID shots weaker against Omicron

[TexasTowelie]

Source: Reuters

HONG KONG/SYDNEY, Nov 30 (Reuters) - The chief executive of drugmaker Moderna (MRNA.O) set off fresh alarm bells in financial markets on Tuesday with a warning that existing COVID-19 vaccines would be less effective against the Omicron variant than they have been against the Delta variant.

Major European stock markets fell around 1.5% in early trade, Tokyo's Nikkei index closed down 1.6%, crude oil futures shed more than 3%, and the Australian dollar hit a one-year low as Stephane Bancel's comments spurred fears that vaccine resistance may prolong the pandemic.

"There is no world, I think, where (the effectiveness) is the same level?.?.?. we had with Delta," Bancel told the Financial Times.

"I think it's going to be a material drop. I just don't know how much because we need to wait for the data. But all the scientists I've talked to?.?.?. are like 'this is not going to be good'," Bancel said. read more

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/hong-kong-expands-travel-curbs-omicron-fears-australia-reports-5-cases-2021-11-30/

[Tomconroy]

1. I'm going to link to the transcript of D. Gottlieb from this

Weekend. I don't pretend to understand this but he said the tests showing blood neutralization which would be out this week would show a substantial drop but that doesn't mean the vaccines will be ineffective:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/transcript-dr-scott-gottlieb-on-face-the-nation-november-28-2021/

[agingdem]

3. no more OMG!

logically speaking, of course the vaccine isn't as effective against a new variant...the next set of boosters will be and round and round we go as more variants pop up somewhere in the world...until polio/mmr/small pox type vaccines are developed then this is our lives...not the new normal but the new different...mask up

[Haggard Celine]

2. Well that fucking sucks!

I hope the early reports are accurate, that it's a mild variant. Otherwise it's not going to be pretty.

[gab13by13]

4. It's early yet,

but I heard doctors on TV saying the vaccine dropped down to the 70's% effective which would still be good. Doctors were also saying that no vaccinated people in Africa have been hospitalized. I mean it's just too early, they will know more in a couple of weeks. Way too early to panic. Maybe Moderna is pushing its new Omicron booster shot which it says will be ready next year?

[pstokely]

5. the vax rate in Africa is ultra low

few vaccinated people hospitalized, but the vax low is to begin with, how can they determine level of protection with few vaccinated?

[madville]

7. They can't determine anything yet

All info so far is just anecdotal. I read yesterday that only 6% of the African continent is vaxxed, this potentially requiring a new booster basically starts then back at 0%.

[oldsoftie]

13. Apparently none infected with the new variant have been hospitalized.

According to the doctor who revealed it

[ananda]

6. Both Moderna and Pfizer are working on new boosters.

Pfizer said theirs would take about 100 days to make.

[madville]

9. They'll always be pushing the next improved booster

They are making no telling how many hundreds of billions off this entire thing, gotta have something to sell next year, and the next year, etc. Still will never trust them as far as money and profit are concerned.

[hamsterjill]

11. Bingo!

This is reality, and it is a part of the overall discussion. It should always be a consideration in any of the marketing strategies that we see drug companies use.

That's why I keep saying that sooner or later, people are going to tire of getting stuck. Don't get me wrong, please. I understand that the vaccines are the best tool we have at the present time and everyone should be vaccinated. But that cannot go on forever. It will not only be anti-vaxxers who don't get the shot but people who are just tired of having to get one.

That's why I, for one, am excited about some of the competing advances, including antiviral drugs, nasal vaccines, etc.

[madville]

8. That 70-something % effective number is against preventing Delta infection.

That 70-something % effective number is against preventing Delta infection. They don’t know what the number is against Omicron yet but they are predicting a significant drop.

[BlueIdaho]

10. Are you talking about two jabs or three?

Thanks.

[DallasNE]

12. Still Another Example Of The Devistation Caused By The Dilly-Dally

On Covid-19. Yes, the anti-vaxxers but more so the lack of leadership in putting together plans for the global distribution of vaccines. Nothing really happened in that area until after Biden was sworn in. Company profits often trumped medical necessity and all of this wasted time has given the virus ample opportunity to shoot out variant after variant. There is only one way out of this and that is vaccines distributed worldwide with mandates to administer.

[ProfessorGAC]

14. I'll Wait A While...

...before I decide the seriousness of these preliminary finding.
The data is based on low vax rates, and no understanding of the age demographics & other physiological factors in those vaxxed.
Also, the efficacy is still at 70%.
And, African doctors are reporting low serious illnesses, so far, from omicron.
Data is both sketchy & contradictory.
Patience seems prudent.
I think it was inappropriate for the Moderna CEO to make this statement at this early stage of data collection.

[Scrivener7]

15. I'm just coming out of a three day reaction to the booster. Sounds like I'll need another.