Main topic: Moderna's updated COVID-19 vaccine shows efficacy against omicron subvariants.
Key points:
1. Moderna's updated COVID-19 vaccine boosts neutralizing antibodies against omicron subvariants EG.5 and FL.1.5.1.
2. The booster shot is expected to be authorized and rolled out soon.
3. The preliminary trial data aims to reassure concerns about the vaccine's effectiveness against current variants.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expects updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax to be available to the public in mid-September, providing a more specific timeline for the arrival of the shots, pending approvals from the FDA and CDC.
The United States is still weeks away from distributing Covid booster shots, despite a 21.6% increase in hospitalizations related to the virus, and the effectiveness of the boosters against new virus variants remains uncertain.
Moderna's updated COVID-19 vaccine is likely to be effective against the highly-mutated BA.2.86 subvariant of the coronavirus, according to clinical trial data, providing reassurance for fall boosters and regulators.
Antibodies from prior infection or existing vaccines have been found to protect against the BA.2.86 variant of the coronavirus, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The FDA has approved updated COVID-19 vaccine and booster shots, targeting new variants, and making them available for Americans as young as 6 months old from Moderna and Pfizer.
Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines, a South African pharmaceutical firm, has made significant progress in developing an mRNA vaccine against COVID-19, potentially expanding access to vaccines globally and enabling lower-income countries to produce their own mRNA vaccines.
Americans can now receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine to reduce the severity of symptoms, protect against current variants, and curb the risk of "long COVID."
Moderna's combination vaccine targeting Covid and the flu, mRNA-1083, has shown positive results in an early to mid-stage study and will move to a final stage trial in adults aged 50 and above with hopes of gaining regulatory approval in 2025, potentially simplifying protection against respiratory viruses that surge during certain seasons.
Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine has been authorized for adults and children 12 and up, joining Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines, and there are also options available for flu and RSV vaccinations, with the CDC recommending that high-risk individuals get all three vaccines to protect against respiratory viruses.
The FDA has approved an updated version of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, which is effective against Omicron strains and may have fewer side effects compared to mRNA vaccines.
The FDA has authorized a new Novavax vaccine that uses a protein targeting method to protect against the Omicron variant, providing an alternative option to the mRNA vaccines by Moderna and Pfizer.
Moderna, Pfizer, and Novavax are racing to develop a combined flu and coronavirus vaccine, with Moderna reportedly jumping ahead with promising results from its phase 1/2 study.
Vaccine maker Novavax has shipped millions of doses of its updated COVID-19 shots to distributors after receiving clearance from U.S. regulators, with the shots expected to be available at U.S. pharmacies this week.
The US Department of Health and Human Services has selected three next-generation vaccine candidates to receive funding awards, including intranasal vaccine candidates and a self-amplifying mRNA vaccine candidate, as part of a government initiative to develop new and more durable Covid-19 vaccines and treatments.
The European Union regulators have postponed their decision on approving Novavax's variant-specific COVID-19 vaccine due to the need for more information on its potency and consistency among different production sites.
Novavax, a protein/adjuvant vaccine, has been authorized for use as a primary vaccine series and as a booster for anyone ages 12 or older in the U.S., offering a viable alternative option to mRNA vaccines with similar efficacy, the potential for extended durability, and fewer reported side effects.
