WASHINGTON DC – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave the green light this Monday to updated versions of the booster of vaccines against COVID-19.
The latest doses are designed to target the Ómicron XBB.1.5 subvariant, according to reports NBC News.
Anyone over the age of 5 will be able to have access to updated vaccines from pharmaceutical companies Pfizer or Moderna, once the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also gives approval, which is expected in the coming days.
People who were recently vaccinated against COVID-19 should wait at least two months to receive the booster.
The boosters come at a time when COVID-19 cases are surging in the United States, driven by a number of subvariants. Officials hope the boosters can mitigate a possible surge in winter illnesses.
Some doctors say federal health agencies are moving too slowly in rolling out boosters as COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are rising once again.
Following FDA approval, the CDC and its advisory committee will issue their own recommendations on who should receive the vaccines and how they should be used.
About 97% of adults have some level of protective immunity against COVID-19, according to data shared by government officials.
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However, since immunity from previous infections and vaccinations wanes over time, authorities aim to strengthen protection as people spend more time indoors during the fall and winter months.
For the first time since COVID-19 vaccines became available, the federal government will not cover the cost of the shots.
Pfizer and Moderna have said they are pricing each vaccine dose at more than $100.
People who do not have health insurance (approximately 30 million in the US) should be able to receive a booster shot for free at community health centers.
2023-09-11 18:52:18
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