UK health regulator approves BioNTech’s adapted vaccine targeting Omicron subvariant

LONDON

Britain’s health regulator on Tuesday approved Pfizer-BioNTech’s adapted COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty, which targets the Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5.

In a statement, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said the vaccine has met its required safety, quality and effectiveness standards.

“The vaccine has been approved for use in individuals from six months of age," said the MHRA.

It added that all approved adapted COVID-19 vaccines help to improve the protection obtained from earlier doses of the vaccine.

On Friday, the European Commission also gave the green light for the Pfizer-BioNTech adapted COVID-19 vaccine.

Earlier, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recommended updating COVID-19 vaccines to target strains of XBB, an Omicron subvariant.