Moderna Inc (MRNA.O) announced that a booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine appeared to be protective against the fast-spreading Omicron variant of the coronavirus in laboratory testing and that the current version of the shot would continue to be its "first line of defense against Omicron", Reuters reports.

Focus on the current vaccine, mRNA-1273

The company said its decision to focus on the current vaccine, mRNA-1273, was driven in part by how quickly the recently-discovered variant is spreading.

 
Moderna said it still plans to develop a vaccine to protect against Omicron specifically and hopes to start clinical trials early next year.

What we have available right now is 1273," Dr. Paul Burton, Moderna's chief medical officer, said in an interview. "It's highly effective, and it's extremely safe. I think it will protect people through the coming holiday period and through these winter months, when we're going to see the most severe pressure of Omicron."

A 50-microgram booster ...