TAMPA, Fla. – The FDA has released an updated recommendation for the fall COVID-19 vaccine formula.
“Coverage in the fall will be attractive because we don’t know what’s going to happen in the fall, do we?” said Dr. Kelly. Jill Roberts, associate professor at the USF School of Public Health.
That’s why vaccine advisors are tasked with making the decision based on circulating COVID-19 strains.
“These two strains, KP. 2 and KP. 3, now account for a portion of all cases in the United States,” Roberts said.
They are part of the FLiRT variants, which, in total, currently account for 62. 9% of new COVID-19 cases in the United States, according to the latest CDC data. Here’s what the FDA is keeping a close eye on.
“Most likely, either strain will continue to take off. They will cover most of the percentage of all strains we see in the U. S. “We are in the U. S. ,” Roberts said.
A few days ago, the FDA asked drug brands to update the fall COVID-19 vaccine formula to target the KP. 2 strain, if possible, to create a more effective vaccine for the fall.
The update to the recommendation comes after the organization voted earlier this month in favor of fall boosters to target the JN. 1 variant.
“They replaced their advice with saying, ‘Okay, let’s put those KP guys on the vaccine,'” Roberts said.
After further follow-up of the circulating strains, the FDA made this update as the JN. 1 mutation rate has declined especially in recent weeks.
The adjustments are expected to delay the vaccine rollout.
However, all brands of drugs can be replaced temporarily, as production of the new injections is already underway.
“So their mRNAs, Pfizer and Moderna, can be replaced very quickly. Novavax is unable to do so because of the way the vaccine is manufactured. It’s harder to replace it, so it probably won’t. In fact, the company has already said, “We’re not going to replace that, we’ve already started production for the fall shots,” Roberts said.
The FDA has not issued any advice on who will receive the new booster in the fall. That will be left to the CDC.
This consultation is scheduled for June 26 to 28.
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