The US approved updated COVID-19 vaccines on Monday, aiming to enhance protection against the latest coronavirus strains and mitigate any potential surge during the fall and winter, as reported by Lauran Neergaard for the Associated Press (AP).
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decision allows most Americans, including those who have never received a coronavirus vaccination, to access the latest shots from Moderna and Pfizer, along with their partner BioNTech.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decision allows most Americans, including those who have never received a coronavirus vaccination, to access the latest shots from Moderna and Pfizer, along with their partner BioNTech.
This move aligns with the strategy of treating fall updates of the COVID-19 vaccine similarly to receiving a yearly flu shot.
However, there's one more step required: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) must also give their approval.
A CDC advisory panel is scheduled to issue recommendations on Tuesday regarding who should receive the updated shots as a priority. Vaccinations could commence later this week, and both the COVID-19 and flu shots can be administered during the same visit.
Meanwhile, Novavax, a third vaccine maker, mentioned that its updated shot is still undergoing review by the FDA.
Comments