EKO HOT BLOG gathered that the new vaccines, designed using the KP.2 variant, aim to target currently circulating variants and offer better protection against severe outcomes like hospitalization or death, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“We strongly encourage those eligible to consider receiving an updated Covid-19 vaccine,” said Peter Marks, a senior FDA official, in a statement.
The vaccines will be available for individuals six months and older, with booster doses recommended at least two months after the previous shot.
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The FDA’s approval comes as Covid cases have been increasing in the U.S. during the summer, ahead of the winter epidemic season.
Pfizer and Moderna both confirmed that their vaccines will be available in pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics “in the coming days.”
“In the 2023-24 season, we saw over 600,000 Covid-related hospitalizations in the U.S.,” said Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel. “Staying up to date with your Covid-19 vaccine remains one of the best ways to protect against severe illness.”
Despite efforts to promote annual Covid vaccinations similar to the flu shot, only 22.5% of adults and 14% of children have received an updated vaccine dose for the 2023-2024 season, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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