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U.S. NEWS Thursday 1 sepTember 2022

U.S. clears updated COVID boosters targeting newest variants

By LAURAN NEERGAARD handling COVID-19 vac-
AP Medical Writer cine updates more like
WASHINGTON (AP) — The yearly changes to flu shots.
U.S. on Wednesday autho- FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter
rized its first update to CO- Marks stressed the agen-
VID-19 vaccines, booster cy considered "the total-
doses that target today's ity" of evidence. Pfizer and
most common omicron Moderna have previously
strain. Shots could begin brewed vaccine doses
within days. updated to match earlier
The move by the Food and mutants — including the
Drug Administration tweaks omicron strain named BA.1
the recipe of shots made that struck last winter —
by Pfizer and rival Moderna and tested them in people.
that already have saved Those earlier recipe chang-
millions of lives. The hope is es were safe, and the BA.1
that the modified boosters version substantially boost-
will blunt yet another win- ed virus-fighting antibod-
ter surge — and help tamp ies — more than another
down the BA.5 omicron dose of the original vac-
relative that continues to cine — although fewer that
spread widely. recognized today's geneti-
"These updated boosters cally distinct BA.4 and BA.5
present us with an oppor- This August 2022 photo provided by Pfizer shows vials of the company's updated COVID-19 vac- strains.
tunity to get ahead" of the cine during production in Kalamazoo, Mich. But instead of using those
next COVID-19 wave, said Associated Press BA.1 shots, FDA ordered
FDA Commissioner Dr. Rob- the companies to brew
ert Califf. ing the original vaccines. to 15 million of those doses vania immunologist E. John even more up-to-date dos-
Until now, COVID-19 vac- Doses made by Pfizer and by the end of next week. Wherry. es that target those newest
cines have targeted the its partner BioNTech are for Moderna didn't immedi- "We need to rebrand it in omicron mutants, spark-
original coronavirus strain, anyone 12 and older while ately say how many doses a societally normal-looking ing a race to roll them out.
even as wildly different mu- Moderna's updated shots are ready to ship but that way," rather than a pan- Rather than waiting a few
tants emerged. The new are for adults — if it has some will be available "in icked response to new mu- more months for additional
U.S. boosters are combi- been at least two months the coming days." tants, Wherry said. "Give a human studies of that very
nation, or "bivalent," shots. since their last primary The big question is whether clear, forward-looking set similar recipe tweak, Marks
They contain half that origi- vaccination or their latest people weary of vaccina- of expectations." said animal tests showed
nal vaccine recipe and booster. They're not to be tions will roll up their sleeves Here's the rub: The original the latest update spurs
half protection against the used for initial vaccinations. again. vaccines still offer strong "a very good immune re-
newest omicron versions, There's one more step be- Just half of vaccinated protection against severe sponse."
BA.4 and BA.5, that are fore a fall booster cam- Americans got the first rec- disease and death from "One needs to refresh the
considered the most con- paign begins: The Centers ommended booster dose, COVID-19 for generally immune system with what
tagious yet. for Disease Control and and only a third of those 50 healthy people, especially is actually circulating,"
The combination aims to Prevention must recom- and older who were urged if they got that important Marks said. That's why FDA
increase cross-protection mend who should get the to get a second booster first booster dose. It's not also is no longer authoriz-
against multiple variants. additional shot. An influen- did so. clear just how much more ing boosters made with the
"It really provides the tial CDC advisory panel will It's time for U.S. authorities benefit an updated boost- original recipe for those 12
broadest opportunity for debate the evidence Thurs- to better explain that the er will bring — beyond a and older.
protection," Pfizer vaccine day — including whether public should expect an temporary jump in antibod- The hope, Marks said, is
chief Annaliesa Anderson people at high risk from updated COVID-19 vacci- ies capable of fending off that a vaccine matched
told The Associated Press. COVID-19 should go first. nation every so often, just an omicron infection. to currently spreading vari-
The updated boosters The U.S. has purchased like getting a fall flu shot One reason: The FDA ants might do a better job
are only for people who more than 170 million doses or a tetanus booster after cleared the modifications fighting infection, not just
have already had their from the two companies. stepping on a rusty nail, ahead of studies in people, serious illness, at least for a
primary vaccinations, us- Pfizer said it could ship up said University of Pennsyl- a step toward eventually while.q