FDA Gives Green Signal To Second Omicron-Adapted Booster Shots For People At High Risk From Covid
- On Tuesday, the FDA amended the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) of Moderna Inc (NASDAQ: MRNA) and Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE), and BioNTech SE's (NASDAQ: BNTX) COVID-19 bivalent mRNA vaccines to simplify the vaccination schedule.
- This action includes authorizing the current bivalent vaccines (original and omicron BA.4/BA.5 strains) to be used for all doses administered to individuals six months of age and older, including for an additional dose or doses for certain populations.
- The monovalent Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines are no longer authorized in the U.S.
- Also Read: Large Vaccine Players Including GSK, Moderna Prepare For Bird Flu Vaccine 'Just In Case'
- Those 65 and older can get a second dose of the updated versions of Pfizer-BioNTech's and Moderna's Covid booster at least four months after their last dose, the FDA said in a statement.
- According to the agency, most immunocompromised people can get an additional dose at least two months after their last dose.
- Most unvaccinated individuals may receive a single dose of a bivalent vaccine rather than multiple doses of the original monovalent mRNA vaccines, FDA said.
- Unvaccinated children six months through 5 years can receive a two-dose series of the Moderna bivalent vaccine or a three-dose series of the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent vaccine.
- Children five years of age may receive two doses of the Moderna bivalent vaccine or a single dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent vaccine.
- The booster shots were reformulated last August to target the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants in addition to the original strain of the virus.
- Photo by Johaehn from Pixabay
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