On Monday, U.S. pharmaceutical giant Moderna said its COVID-19 vaccine protects against two new variants of the coronavirus.

The company said the vaccine triggered an immune response to "all key emerging variants," including those first identified in the UK and South Africa. 

The researchers looked at blood samples taken from eight people who had received the recommended two doses of the Moderna vaccine. The findings are yet to be peer reviewed but suggest immunity from the vaccine recognizes the new variants.

While the study showed no changes in immune response to the UK variant compared with the original OCVID-19 virus, the vaccine produced a weaker immune response to the South Africa variant.

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Moderna said it is looking at whether a booster shot – either of its existing vaccine or of a new shot designed to protect against the South Africa variant – could be made available in future if evidence were to emerge that protection against the virus deteriorated over time. 

The U.S. pharmaceutical giant said it expects its current vaccine will remain protective for at least a year after completing the two-dose course. It does not expect to test a third dose until at least six months after that course is finished.

Stephane Bancel, Moderna CEO, said that the company believed it was "imperative to be proactive as the virus evolves."

Bharat Pankhania, a senior clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter, has widespread experience of advising on national communicable disease control action plans at national and international level.

Pankhania said Moderna's vaccine is very promising and that when it becomes available it will ease pressure on the manufacture of other vaccines, such as those from Pfizer, BioNTech and AstraZeneca. 

He added that we will also know relatively fast how effective each of these vaccines are in fighting COVID-19.