Updating vaccines for the omicron variant

+ baby talk for couples US Edition - Today's top story: How can scientists update coronavirus vaccines for omicron? A microbiologist answers 5 questions about how Moderna and Pfizer could rapidly adjust mRNA vaccines [View in browser]( US Edition | 3 December 2021 [The Conversation]( Unfortunately, the coronavirus is not a passive enemy waiting for human ingenuity to overcome it – it’s constantly mutating and changing. Most of these mutations have no effect, but when random chance happens to tweak important parts of the virus – like its spike protein – new variants emerge. The omicron variant has a number of mutations that make its spike proteins slightly different from previous strains of the coronavirus. The concern is that these differences will make existing vaccines less effective against omicron. As of now, it is unclear whether this is the case. But if it is, current vaccines may need to be updated. Deborah Fuller is a microbiologist who has been researching mRNA and DNA vaccines for nearly two decades. In this story, she explains [why the U.S. might need some revised vaccines and what that process looks like](. Also today: - [The economic harm of restricting abortion]( - [Can your state handle the broadband funding influx?]( - [America’s anger management problem]( Daniel Merino Assistant Science Editor & Co-Host of The Conversation Weekly Podcast Some vaccines use mRNA to make copies of the triangular red spike proteins to induce immunity. Juan Gaertner/Science Photo Library via Getty Images [How can scientists update coronavirus vaccines for omicron? A microbiologist answers 5 questions about how Moderna and Pfizer could rapidly adjust mRNA vaccines]( Deborah Fuller, University of Washington The new omicron variant of coronavirus has a number of mutations that may require manufacturers to update vaccines. The unique attributes of mRNA vaccines make updating them fast and easy. 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