While COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations are lower than in previous years, recent outbreaks of the virus during the summer have raised concerns. The emergence of new variants, such as Eris (EG.5) and Pirola (BA.2.86), along with the continued circulation of the Omicron variant, has prompted calls for updated vaccines. On Monday, September 11, the FDA authorized the update to Moderna and Pfizer’s mRNA vaccines against COVID-19, aiming to provide better protection against the current variants.
Although the update primarily targets Omicron, it has been approved based on sufficient evidence of its effectiveness against Omicron, Pirola, and Eris. The success of the update in addressing a wide range of variants is likely due to their similarities to Omicron.
The updated vaccines will be available as a single dose to anyone over the age of five, regardless of previous vaccination, as long as it has been at least two months since the last dose. Unvaccinated children between 6 months and 4 years old will also be eligible for a full course of either the updated Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.
“Vaccination remains critical to public health and protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death,” said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, in a statement.
“The public can be assured that these updated vaccines have met the agency’s rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality. We strongly encourage eligible individuals to consider getting vaccinated.”
Unless a significantly more virulent version of SARS-CoV-2 emerges, the FDA plans to update COVID-19 vaccines on a yearly basis, similar to the flu vaccine.
