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    1. Health and Fitness

    Apparently there's a new Covid vaccine designed to specifically target Omicron

    Yep, you read that right.

    Ally Head's avatar
    By Ally Head
    Published 19 August 2022 In Features

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    new Coronavirus omicron vaccine Spikevax
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    Yep, you read that right.

    In Covid news today, the UK has become the first country in the world to approve a new Covid vaccine specifically designed to target the Omicron strain of the virus.

    Ministers greenlit the jab, which is called "Spikevax."

    Moderna - the company that has developed the new vaccine - shares its hopes that around 13 million doses can be provided in time for Autumn when ministers plan to roll out the next booster campaign.

    That said, they have cautioned the public not to get set on one specific type, as you'll be injected with whatever jab they have available on the day. After all, they have all been developed and approved with the same goal in mind - to protect you against the virus.

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    Some fun facts for you: The new vaccine is bivalent, which essentially means that it's multifaceted and can do two jobs at the same time. It both targets the original Covid-19 virus but also the many new strains and mutations of it, too.

    Speaking to the BBC, a representative from the UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, Dr June Raine, stressed that the drug has indeed been vetted, tested on 473 people so far, and wouldn't have been approved by UK regulatory bodies without thorough testing.

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    "What this bivalent vaccine gives us is a sharpened tool in our armoury to help protect us against this disease as the virus continues to evolve," she said.

    If you're at all worried about the vaccine and your fertility or how long the vaccine side effects last, we've asked some of the best experts in the business to explain why you don't need to be. Haven't had Covid yet and wondering why? Our guide might help.

    When tested, results showed that Spikevax is effective at offering immune protection from the newer variants - more so than other vaccines.

    Wondering whether you may be eligible for a Spikevax vaccine? Good question - and one that, as of yet, we don't have an answer to. The relevant regulatory boards will decide who is most eligible for the vaccines and distribute them accordingly.

    Whatever vaccine you get - here's to protecting ourselves and others.

    Ally Head
    Ally Head
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    Senior Health and Sustainability Editor

    Ally is Marie Claire UK's Senior Health and Sustainability Editor, a well-regarded wellness expert, ten-time marathoner, and Boston Qualifying runner.

    Utilising her impressive skillset and exceptional quality of writing, she pens investigative, review and first-person pieces that consistently demonstrate flair and originality.

    Ally manages a team of freelancers, oversees all commissioning and strategy for her pillars, and spearheads the brand's annual Women in Sport covers, interviewing and shooting the likes of Mary Earps, Millie Bright, and Ilona Maher. Shortlisted for three BSMEs and winning one in 2022, Ally lives and breathes her verticals: her eye for a story and connections within the wellness sphere are unrivalled. Follow Ally on Instagram for more.

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