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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 29 June 2022
FDA advisers recommend updating COVID booster shots for fall

By LAURAN NEERGAARD U.S. retain strong protec- strengthen their immune
and MATTHEW PERRONE tion against hospitalization response and help prevent
Associated Press and death but their ability another wave."
At least some U.S. adults to block infection dropped The logistics will be chal-
may get updated COV- markedly when omicron lenging. Many Americans
ID-19 shots this fall, as gov- appeared. And the omi- haven't had their first vac-
ernment advisers voted cron mutant that caused cinations yet, including
Tuesday that it's time to the winter surge has been young children who just
tweak booster doses to replaced by its genetically became eligible — and it's
better match the most re- distinct relatives. The two not clear whether tweaked
cent virus variants. newest omicron cousins, boosters eventually might
Advisers to the Food and called BA.4 and BA.5, to- lead to a change in the
Drug Administration wres- gether now make up half primary vaccine. But the
tled with how to modify of U.S. cases, according FDA's advisers said it's im-
doses now when there's to the Centers for Disease portant to go ahead and
no way to know how the Control and Prevention. study updated vaccine A health worker administers a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine
rapidly mutating virus will Pfizer and Moderna al- recipes in children, too. during a vaccination clinic at the Keystone First Wellness Center
evolve by fall — especial- ready were brewing boost- And one more complexity: in Chester, Pa., on Dec. 15, 2021.
ly since people who get ers that add protection to A third company, Novavax, Associated Press
today's recommended the first omicron mutant. is awaiting FDA authoriza-
boosters remain strongly Their combination shots, tion of a more traditional immune response against would be most beneficial
protected against COVID- what scientists call "biva- kind of COVID-19 vac- the new omicron mutants as a booster only, because
19's worst outcomes. lent" vaccines, substantially cine, protein-based shots. without a recipe change. they should increase the
Ultimately the FDA panel boosted levels of antibod- Novavax argued Tuesday Advisers to the World Health breadth of people's cross-
voted 19-2 that COVID-19 ies capable of fighting that that a booster of its regular Organization recently said protection against multiple
boosters should contain variant, more than simply vaccine promises a good omicron-tweaked shots variants.q
some version of the super- giving another dose of to-
contagious omicron vari- day's vaccine.
ant, to be ready for an an- Both companies found the
ticipated fall booster cam- tweaked shots also offered
paign. some cross-protection
"We are going to be be- against those worrisome
hind the eight-ball if we BA.4 and BA.5 mutants, too,
wait longer," said one ad- but not nearly as much.
viser, Dr. Mark Sawyer of Many scientists favor the
the University of California, combination approach
San Diego. because it preserves the
The FDA will have to de- original vaccines' proven
cide the exact recipe, but benefits, which include
expect a combination some cross-protection
shot that adds protection against other mutants that
against either omicron or have cropped up during
some of its newer relatives the pandemic.
to the original vaccine. The question facing FDA
"None of us has a crys- is the correct recipe
tal ball" to know the next change. Both companies
threatening variant, said said they'd have plenty of
FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter omicron-targeted combo
Marks. But "we may at least shots by October but Mod-
bring the immune system erna said switching to tar-
closer to being able to re- get omicron's newest rela-
spond to what's circulating" tives might delay its version
now rather than far older another month.
virus strains. Further complicating the
It's not clear who would be decision is that only half
offered a tweaked booster of vaccinated Americans
— they might be urged only have received that all-im-
for older adults or those at portant first booster. And
high risk from the virus. But while the CDC says protec-
the FDA is expected to de- tion against hospitalization
cide on the recipe change has slipped some for older
within days and then Pfizer adults, a second booster
and Moderna will have to that's recommended for
seek authorization for the people 50 and older seems
appropriately updated to restore it. But only a
doses, time for health au- quarter of those eligible
thorities to settle on a fall for the additional booster
strategy. have gotten one.
Current COVID-19 vac- Marks said that by tweak-
cines have saved millions of ing the shots, "we're hoping
lives globally. With a boost- we can convince people
er dose, those used in the to go get that booster to