Tuesday 28 June 2022 10:18 PM FDA panel recommends new COVID-19 shots to target the Omicron variant trends now
A panel of independent advisors has recommended new formulations for the COVID-19 vaccines to specifically target the Omicron variant.
By a 19-2 vote, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) approved plans to rollout newly formulated vaccines this fall - citing the vaccine resistant traits of the Omicron variant.
Dr Peter Marks, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) top regulatory body for vaccines, said Tuesday morning he hoped to make the new shots available as early as this October.
The move opens the door for fourth vaccine shots for the general American population and fifth shots for the immunocompromised and for people over 50.
An FDA advisory panel voted in favor of newly formulated COVID-19 vaccines targeting the Omicron variants. Previous vaccine versions were built to combat the original Wuhan virus strain from two years ago. Pictured: A soldier in Fort Knox, Kentucky, receives a shot of a COVID-19 vaccine in September, 2021
All currently available versions of the COVID-19 vaccines are formulated to the original Wuhan strain that emerged two years ago.
While they are still effective at preventing severe infection or death in a majority of cases, the Omicron variant has mutated in a way to avoid front end protection from infection.
This change allows for both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna to begin distribution of newly formulated shots that should be able to prevent infection from the Omicron variant - along with previous versions of the virus.
The FDA is expected to follow the lead of its advisors and issue emergency use authorization to the new jabs at some point this week.
After the FDA, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will also likely authorize the shots.
In preparation for Tuesday's meeting, Pfizer unveiled data on Saturday showing its updated vaccine's effectiveness against the highly infectious strain of the virus.
Data included over 1,200 people who has already received both the original two-dose vaccine series and a booster shot.
The trial found a significant increased in Omicron-effective antibodies in participants. Moderna, Pfizer's
