Main Topic: Pfizer's updated Covid boosters could be authorized by the FDA by the end of August.
Key Points:
1. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla stated that the FDA could authorize the updated Covid boosters by the end of August.
2. Pfizer and Moderna requested the FDA to update their shots to target the XBB.1.5 subvariant, as advised by the FDA.
3. Covid hospitalizations are rising in the US, and Bourla expects a new Covid wave to start in the fall.
Main Topic: Americans heading into the winter respiratory virus season with optimism despite an increase in Covid cases.
Key Points:
1. Widespread immunity from Covid infection or vaccination, as well as updated booster shots, provides reassurance to public health officials.
2. Early indications from wastewater signal low Covid spread and no consistent data to suggest a surge.
3. Covid vaccines are holding steady against virus mutations, and updated shots are expected to be authorized soon. Traditional protection measures like staying home when sick and wearing masks remain effective.
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.
An updated version of the COVID-19 vaccine designed to target the Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5, known as Kraken, is expected to be released earlier than anticipated, potentially by mid-September, as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations rise across California and the US.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects a new booster vaccine to be available next month, but its effectiveness against the highly mutated Pirola variant is uncertain.
The U.S. is experiencing a rise in Covid cases just as new vaccines that protect against the latest variants are almost ready.
Moderna's updated Covid vaccine has shown a strong immune response against the highly mutated omicron variant BA.2.86, suggesting that the vaccine will still be effective against newer variants of the virus.
Two new Covid shots from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have been approved by the FDA and are expected to be available soon as cases continue to rise in some parts of the US, with preliminary research suggesting they offer protection against the dominant variant and other concerning variants.
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."
Attitudes about COVID-19 vaccinations in the US are shifting, with survey results showing that about 43% of adults plan to get the latest COVID-19 vaccine, similar to the uptake of the annual flu shot, although concerns about vaccine safety still persist.
New COVID-19 vaccines recommended by the CDC are now available in select locations in New Jersey and will be accessible statewide in the near future, providing updated protection against the virus for individuals aged 6 months and older.
The FDA has authorized Novavax's updated Covid vaccine for emergency use in individuals aged 12 and older, providing an alternative to mRNA shots from Pfizer and Moderna.
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.
Moderna is developing new refrigerator-stable vaccines that are easier to administer and do not require the same freezing conditions as previous COVID-19 vaccines, making them more accessible for use globally.
Moderna plans to advance a novel vaccine design targeting both flu and COVID-19 into its final stage of development, aiming to simplify annual vaccinations and increase vaccine uptake, with hopes of regulatory approval by 2025.
