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The Food and Drug Administration has given the green light for updated Covid vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, paving the way for these new shots to reach most Americans in the coming days. These jabs target the KP.2 strain, which is a descendant of the omicron subvariant JN.1. While KP.2 was the dominant Covid strain in May, it now only accounts for roughly 3% of all U.S. cases. Pfizer and Moderna have stated that their KP.2 vaccines can produce stronger immune responses against other circulating subvariants of JN.1, such as KP.3 and LB.1, compared to last year’s shots targeting the omicron strain XBB.1.5.
Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, emphasizes the importance of receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants. Pfizer and Moderna’s new shots are specifically approved for individuals ages 12 and older, with emergency use authorization for children 6 months through 11 years old.
Pfizer and Moderna are gearing up to make their new vaccines available across the U.S. in the coming days. Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel highlights the significance of staying up to date with Covid vaccinations to prevent severe illness.
The FDA’s approval of these updated vaccines ahead of last year’s shots arrives just in time as the nation experiences a summer surge in Covid cases. Wastewater monitoring indicates a “high” or “very high” level of Covid detection in almost every state, underscoring the widespread nature of the virus. Despite rising measures of the virus, federal health officials remind Americans to expect annual updates to Covid shots as new strains emerge.
Novavax, a biotech company, is awaiting FDA clearance for its new JN.1 shot, which provides protection against descendants of JN.1, including KP.2.3, KP.3, KP.3.1.1, and LB.1. Novavax’s protein-based vaccines differ from Pfizer’s and Moderna’s mRNA technology, making them less easily updated to target new strains.
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