The BioNTech/Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine adapted to the XBB.1.5 variant, which has been procured by the Federal Government, is available for COVID-19 vaccination as of Monday, 18 September, 2023. The Federal Ministry of Health and the Robert Koch-Institut call for individuals to follow the vaccination recommendations of the Standing Vaccination Commission (STIKO).
The COVID-19 vaccines used thus far still protect against severe cases of COVID-19 due to the built-up cellular immune response. However, the virus protection provided by the neutralising antibodies formed after vaccination decreases over time. In addition, new SARS-CoV-2 virus variants are constantly emerging. For this reason, the Emergency Task Force of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), in coordination with other regulatory authorities, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Agencies (ICMRA), has recommended that COVID-19 vaccines be adapted to XBB strains of the Omicron virus variant in order to increase protection.
The expert committees involved agreed that the vaccines for the coming winter season in the northern hemisphere should contain only one virus strain and be based on the XBB family of Omicron subvariants, such as XBB.1.5. The COVID-19 mRNA vaccines Comirnaty (BioNTech/Pfizer) and Spikevax (Moderna), which are adapted to Omicron XBB.1.5, have already been authorised by the EU Commission. The newly adapted vaccines can be used for both primary and booster vaccinations.
The COVID-19 mRNA vaccine Comirnaty, available as of 18 September 2023 and centrally procured by the Federal Government, contains the mRNA for the spike protein blueprint of the Omicron XBB.1.5 variant. The same goes for the adapted mRNA vaccine Spikevax, which was authorised on 15 September 2023.
Novavax has also announced that it will launch a variant of its protein-based vaccine, Nuvaxovid, adapted to the Omicron XBB.1.5 variant (subject to authorisation).
In contrast to the previous adapted, bivalent COVID-19 vaccines, these newly adapted vaccines are monovalent, meaning the entire amount of mRNA or antigen is directed towards one virus variant.
The EMA and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) point out that these new monovalent vaccines are well suited to provide protection against currently dominant and emerging variants.
Updated: 19.09.2023
