WHO Backs Study of Updated Covid Vaccines for Omicron

The World Health Organization said updated Covid-19 vaccines for the highly transmissible omicron variant may be warranted.

The Geneva-based global health group said in a statement Friday that “the potential benefit of omicron updated vaccines should be studied,” as research indicates a “modified Covid-19 vaccine composition may be warranted to broaden immune protection.”

The statement is not a policy recommendation, the WHO said.

The omicron variant and a series of sub-strains have turbo-charged the spread of Covid-19, proving highly transmissible even among those fully vaccinated and boosted. However, the variant has proved less deadly than previous strains with fewer hospitalizations ...