In breaking news, as a summer wave of Covid-19 continues to hit the United States, the US Food and Drug Administration has signed off on updated Covid-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech.
Moderna and Pfizer have announced that the updated mRNA shots will be available in pharmacies and clinics in the days ahead.
According to Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, “Vaccination continues to be the cornerstone of COVID-19 prevention.” He emphasized the importance of receiving updated Covid-19 vaccines to provide better protection against currently circulating variants.
Recent data from the CDC shows that levels of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater are at “very high” levels nationally, sparking the highest summer peak in the US since July 2022. Monitoring viral levels in wastewater can give insight into the widespread presence of the virus as testing and monitoring have decreased.
While measures of severe disease, such as hospitalization and death rates, have been rising, they are not at levels seen in previous years.
The prevalent strain in the US now is KP.3.1.1, accounting for 37% of cases over the past two weeks, according to CDC data. This strain has tripled its level from a month ago.
Both KP.3.1.1 and KP.2, the strain included in the updated mRNA vaccines, are offshoots of JN.1, which will be the target of an updated protein-based vaccine from Novavax. These strains are versions of the Omicron variant.
In June, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that everyone over 6 months old receive an updated Covid-19 vaccine and a flu shot this year.
The FDA has announced that people 5 and older are eligible to receive an updated Pfizer or Moderna Covid-19 vaccine as long as it has been at least two months since their last dose.
Unvaccinated individuals aged 6 months through 4 years can receive three doses of the updated Pfizer vaccine or two doses of the updated Moderna vaccine. Those in this age group who have been previously vaccinated may receive one to two doses of the updated vaccines, depending on their previous vaccination history. Certain individuals aged 6 months through 11 years with weakened immune systems may be eligible for additional doses.