“Always wear a mask on the plane from now on”: This is what Moderna boss Dan Staner says about the Corona situation in Switzerland

class=”sc-29f61514-0 icZBHN”>

As soon as we fully recovered from the corona pandemic, a new type of virus began to spread. Or rather, two: Eris and Pirola. Many people are now wondering whether the current vaccine is effective against both of these variants. Do we need to arm ourselves against another wave of infections?

“The WHO recognized two variants of the virus because they may be more contagious than previous variants,” explains Dan Staner (55). He is the Swiss boss of Moderna. The US vaccine manufacturer, a partner of the Swiss Lonza, became known mainly thanks to the coronavirus. Because he made one of the important mRNA vaccines.

Staner announced in an interview with Blick that a new version will now be available soon. “We will deliver our adapted vaccine to Switzerland in two or three weeks.” This is a completely new vaccine that works against both new variants. Staner says Moderna is the only company with clinical data to prove the effectiveness of its vaccine against Pirola and Eris.

Does that mean we all need to be pinned again right now, which would of course make Staner’s safe ring? “Everyone has to decide for themselves,” says Staner. Moderna supports the federal government’s guidelines: People over the age of 65 or with any previous illnesses are recommended to get vaccinated again.

Get vaccinated once a year

Staner received his last vaccination in November 2022. He then wants to vaccinate himself with the adapted vaccine in October. “I do this once a year now, just like I do with the flu shot,” says Staner. Therefore, it assumes that the Covid vaccine will never completely disappear from the market again. This is, of course, in line with the spirit of Moderna.

Staner always has a hygiene mask with him, but he decides whether to wear it or not depending on the situation. “Now I’m wearing them on the plane again.”

Eventually, some people brought the virus home with them as souvenirs from their summer holidays. But summer seems more or less history; winter is approaching. This means the number of infections could rise again. During the winter months, people spend more time in closed rooms where Corona can spread. “The virus does not sleep,” says Staner.

But he does not expect Covid hospitalizations to rise dramatically again in Switzerland. In other countries, this number is already rising again. But the Moderna boss said “Switzerland has taken all necessary precautions.”

Will Lonza remain an important partner?

It works with the US company Lonza in this country. Valais pharmaceutical company provides the main active ingredient of the vaccine. “Lonza has been one of our key partners since day one,” explains Staner. The less Covid vaccine Moderna produces, the less important the relationship with Lonza becomes.

Regardless, Moderna has big plans. The company plans to launch 15 new products over the next five years. All vaccines and drugs are based on mRNA. “This offers significant advantages for our success,” explains Staner. There is also treatment for lung cancer.

Source :Blick