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Coronavirus Watch: Pfizer developing omicron-specific vaccine

Grace Hauck   | Paste BN

The head of Pfizer said the company is developing a COVID-19 vaccine to target the omicron variant.

Pfizer is also developing a shot that includes both the previous vaccine as well the omicron-specific vaccine, a "hybrid," CEO Albert Bourla said Monday at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.

"We will have not only data, but I think we will be ready almost to go file and launch if it's successful and if we need the demand," he said.

It's Tuesday, and this is Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here's more news to know:

  • Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Rochelle Walensky and others testified Tuesday to a U.S. Senate committee about variants and the federal response.
  • Americans should not to travel to Canada because of high levels of COVID-19, the CDC and the State Department advised Monday.
  • The CDC is considering updating its mask guidance to recommend people wear N95 or KN95 masks, the Washington Post reported. 
  • Chicago teachers and students were set to come back to the classroom this week after city leaders reached an agreement with the Chicago Teachers Union on COVID-19 safety protocols.
  • The daily rate of breakthrough infections among New Yorkers grew more than seven-fold in December but was still dwarfed by new infections among the unvaccinated, new data shows. Because of rising breakthrough infections, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a booster shot mandate for health care workers.
  • Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he will send in more National Guard members to help hospitals, which are "filling up" as the omicron variant "continues to burn through the commonwealth." 
  • Half of Western Europe could be infected in six to eight weeks, and there is a “closing window of opportunity” to prevent health systems from being overwhelmed, WHO Europe director Dr. Hans Kluge said Tuesday.

See our COVID-19 resource guide here. See total reported cases and deaths here. On vaccinations: About 74% of people in the U.S. have received at least one vaccine shot, and about 62% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

– Grace Hauck, Paste BN breaking news reporter, @grace_hauck

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