From CNBC: 2024-08-22 14:04:15

The FDA has approved updated Covid vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna to combat a summer surge of the virus. The shots target the KP.2 strain and can provide strong immune responses against other subvariants. The CDC recommended everyone over 6 months get the updated vaccines. Pfizer and Moderna shots are specifically approved for ages 12 and older.

Pfizer will begin shipping the new shot immediately, with Moderna expecting its shot to also become available in the coming days. The new vaccines come ahead of last year’s round of shots, offering some reassurance as Covid levels rise and hospitalizations increase. Other types of testing have fallen off, making wastewater monitoring crucial for tracking the virus.

Covid test positivity rates have increased, with about 4 people being hospitalized for Covid per 100,000 people. The summer Covid wave may decline as the updated shots reach patients, but annual updates to vaccines are expected as new strains emerge. It is uncertain how many Americans will receive the updated vaccine, with only 22.5% of adults getting the last booster.

Novavax, which filed for an updated shot against JN.1, awaits FDA clearance, while Pfizer and Moderna continue to distribute their vaccines. Novavax’s protein-based shot protects against JN.1 descendants but cannot be quickly updated like mRNA vaccines. Pfizer’s and Moderna’s messenger RNA technology allows for easier development and updates against new strains of the virus.



Read more at CNBC: FDA approves Pfizer, Moderna updated KP.2 shots