My advice to take precautions against mosquitoes was timely. America’s most famous infectious disease specialist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, was hospitalized with West Nile Virus. I believe he has been released from the hospital.
As expected, the FDA approved two new covid 19 vaccines. Pharmacies are already scheduling appointments.
FDA OKs KP.2-Adapted COVID-19 Vaccines for 2024-2025 Season
The 2024-2025 mRNA COVID-19 vaccines will include a monovalent component that corresponds to the KP.2 strain of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron JN.1 lineage, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The updated formulation pertains to both approved (Comirnaty and Spikevax) and authorized (Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine) mRNA vaccines. Targeting the KP.2 strain is expected to provide better protection against COVID-19 based on current data indicating that KP.2-adapted vaccines generate a substantially improved neutralizing response against currently circulating Omicron JN.1 sublineages compared with Omicron XBB.1.5-adapted COVID-19 vaccines.
“These updated vaccines meet the agency’s rigorous, scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality,” said Peter Marks, MD, PhD, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. Given waning immunity of the population from previous exposure to the virus and from prior vaccination, we strongly encourage those who are eligible to consider receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants.”
Recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination using the KP.2-adapted 2024-2025 formulation include the following:
- Unvaccinated children aged 6 months to 4 years: may receive 3 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or 2 doses of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine.
- Previously vaccinated children aged 6 months to 4 years: may receive 1 or 2 doses of Moderna or Pfizer-BioNtech COVID-19 vaccine (based on previous vaccine received).
- Children aged 5 to 11 years (regardless of previous vaccination): may receive 1 dose of Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
- If previously vaccinated, the dose should be administered at least 2 months after the last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.
- Individuals aged 12 years or older: may receive 1 dose of Comirnaty or Spikevax.
- If previously vaccinated, the dose should be administered at least 2 months after the last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.
Both Pfizer and Moderna announced that the updated COVID-19 vaccines will be available in pharmacies and care settings immediately.
References
- US Food and Drug Administration. FDA approves and authorizes updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines to better protect against currently circulating variants. August 22, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fda-approves-and-authorizes-updated-mrna-covid-19-vaccines-to-better-protect-against-currently-circulating-variants-302228899.html
- Pfizer and BioNTech receive US FDA approval & authorization for Omicron KP.2-adapted COVID-19 vaccine. News release. Pfizer. August 22, 2024. https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-receive-us-fda-approval-authorization
- Moderna receives US FDA approval for updated COVID-19 vaccine targeting KP.2 variant of SARS-CoV-2. News release. Moderna. August 22, 2024. https://news.modernatx.com/news/news-details/2024/Moderna-Receives-U.S.-FDA-Approval-for-Updated-COVID-19-Vaccine-Targeting-KP.2-Variant-of-SARS-CoV-2/default.aspx
