FDA Approves Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 Vaccines Targeting KP.2; Novavax Pending

Aug 22, 2024, 05:43 PM

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna. These vaccines are designed to target the current dominant KP.2 variant of the virus. The approval comes as the U.S. experiences a summer wave of COVID-19 infections. Pfizer has announced that its vaccines will begin shipping immediately, while Moderna's vaccines will be available in the coming days. The updated vaccines have been authorized for emergency use for the 2024 fall and winter season, and are cleared for Americans aged six months and older. However, there are concerns about the uptake of these boosters, particularly among older Americans, including those in nursing homes. Authorization for the Novavax booster is still pending, and Wall Street is not optimistic about sales for Pfizer and Moderna.