ISLAMABAD: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday reiterated the critical role of COVID-19 vaccination in public health, highlighting the need to develop updated vaccines to combat emerging strains of the deadly virus. .
According to a recent statement by WHO’s Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 vaccine composition, monovalent JN.1 strains in future COVID-19 vaccines should be used to enhance immune responses against circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants. It is recommended to maintain the variation of TAG-CO-VAC).
Despite progress in vaccination efforts, SARS-CoV-2 continues to circulate globally, with significant genetic evolution of its spike protein, the UN health agency said. The News Reported
It also stated that this continuous evolution led to the emergence of new strains that posed ongoing challenges to public health systems worldwide.
The WHO recommendation is consistent with its goal to improve vaccine-induced immunity against prevalent strains.
Studies have shown that JN.1 lineage vaccines are effective in eliciting strong neutralizing antibody responses against JN.1 and its lineages such as KP.3.1.1 and XEC. These variables currently dominate global circulation.
TAG-CO-VAC advises Member States to continue the COVID-19 vaccination program without delay using vaccines listed or pre-qualified by WHO for emergency use.
The group also encouraged vaccine makers to focus on formulations that sustain strong immune responses against emerging strains.
In a comprehensive review conducted between 10-12 December 2024, TAG-CO-VAC analyzed global data on SARS-CoV-2 evolution, immune response to vaccination, and vaccine efficacy.
Evidence suggests that vaccination with monovalent JN.1 or KP.2 antigens significantly increases antibody titers against circulating variants.
Additionally, these vaccines have shown protection against severe disease and death, particularly in high-risk populations such as those 65 years of age or older or those with underlying conditions.
WHO has also highlighted ongoing gaps in SARS-CoV-2 reporting and genomic surveillance by Member States, which complicate efforts to monitor epidemiological trends and assess the impact of emerging strains.
Strengthening these systems is a priority to effectively combat the evolution of the virus.
While vaccination programs should continue to use current formulations, TAG-CO-VAC encourages research on new vaccine antigens derived from recent variants to further improve protection and reduce transmission. The advisory group emphasized that future vaccines must balance broad immune responses with practical considerations for global distribution.
Standing WHO recommendations for COVID-19 emphasize the urgent need for vaccination, particularly in the context of continuing gaps in epidemiological reporting.
By maintaining a proactive approach to vaccine development and deployment, Member States can ensure better health outcomes for their populations.
As part of its ongoing efforts, TAG-CO-VAC will reconvene every six months to review new data and issue recommendations on whether to maintain the current vaccine structure or develop an emerging vaccine. Updates should be adopted to address the challenges.