Moderna says Omicron represents a "significant potential risk" to vaccine and natural-induced immunity

Moderna says Omicron represents a "significant potential risk" to vaccine and natural-induced immunity Vaccine maker Moderna says the new Omicron variant represents a "significant potential risk" to the efficacy of its Covid-19 vaccine as well as immunity reached naturally. By <a href="/profiles/melissa-mahtani" target="_blank">Melissa Mahtani</a>, <a href="/profiles/aditi-sandal" target="_blank">Aditi Sangal</a> <a href="/profiles/adrienne-vogt" target="_blank">Adrienne Vogt</a> and<a href="/profiles/fernando-alfonso-iii" target="_blank"> Fernando Alfonso</a> CNN

Vaccine maker Moderna says the new Omicron variant represents a "significant potential risk" to the efficacy of its Covid-19 vaccine as well as immunity reached naturally.

"The recently described Omicron variant includes mutations seen in the Delta variant that are believed to increase transmissibility and mutations seen in the Beta and Delta variants that are believed to promote immune escape," Moderna said Friday in a news release.

The company said it is working rapidly to test the ability of its vaccine to neutralize the new variant and data is expected in the coming weeks....