Experts believe that it is quite possible that annual boosters of vaccines against COVID-19 will be necessary to protect vulnerable populations from the virus, as is done for the general population with the vaccine against influenza.
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This is what the D envisions.r Guy Boivin, Full Professor in the Department of Microbiology-Immunology and Infectiology of the Faculty of Medicine at Laval University.
In his opinion, the strain could become endemic and return annually with the cold, like other respiratory viruses.
“You’re probably going to have to vaccinate – not everyone – but probably the patients most at risk. A bit like the flu, he observes. Not necessarily next year, but eventually.”
Epidemiologist and biochemist Karl L’Espérance shows a little more reservations about this possible upcoming annual booster, but he also believes that it is a possibility.
“It could happen, but it will depend on what happens with the virus in the future,” he argues.
Before establishing an annual reminder, the two experts agree that it will be necessary to observe several elements in the evolution of the virus, in particular its pathogenicity and immunity in general.
Panvaccine to the rescue
This avenue could be avoided by designing a universal vaccine, that is, a vaccine that would protect against several coronaviruses and their pesky variants.
While current vaccines against COVID-19 are the subject of much criticism for their effectiveness, the two experts explain that these vaccines were designed to respond to the urgency of the health crisis.
“When you go to the most urgent, you take the protein that is most exposed on the surface of the virus. It is she who is the most immunogenic, that is to say that the immune system recognizes in priority”, explains the Dr Bovine.
According to Mr. L’Espérance, the universal vaccine, or panvaccine, will require a lot of work to design.
“It’s really not an obvious job,” he blurts out.
The Dr Boivin explains that it is necessary to reach other more conserved proteins of the virus.
“These are proteins that mutate less. But they are more difficult to target, because they are inside the virus and they are not exposed to the immune system”, he specifies.
This work is already underway in some laboratories, and the results are promising, according to the two experts.
“I can’t wait to see the vaccine from Medicago. It’s completely different. It targets something other than the S protein and could therefore immunize against several variants,” adds Dr.r Bovine.
In the middle of the fifth wave, where the morale of many people is severely tested, the epidemiologist ends on a glimmer of hope.
“There are super positive indicators. We talk a lot about endemics, but the scenarios are promising for the next few months, especially with the arrival of antivirals, “said Mr. L’Espérance.