The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency use approval to two Covid-19 vaccines that are matched to the omicron variant as a booster dose. According to the approval, the modified vaccines cannot be administered earlier than two months after vaccination against the virus. These are so-called bivalent mRNA vaccines from the companies Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna, the authority announced on Wednesday.
Bivalent means that two components are taken into account: The preparations must provide protection – both against the parent Sars-CoV-2 and against the omicron sublines BA.4 and BA.5. The FDA approved Moderna’s bivalent vaccine as a single booster dose in people age 18 and older. Biontech/Pfizer’s can therefore be administered as a single booster dose to people aged twelve years and older.
“As we move towards fall and spend more time indoors, we encourage anyone who is eligible to consider a booster dose of a bivalent Covid-19 vaccine to provide better protection against the currently circulating variants,” said FDA chief Robert. Califf.
EMA decides on Thursday
The competent committee of the European Medicines Agency EMA is planning a decision on the approval of bivalent vaccines from Biontech/Pfizer and Moderna for Thursday. It concerns the components of the original Sars-CoV-2 and the ommicron subline BA.1. The EMA is currently investigating the approval of corona vaccines adapted to the current Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
