As the summer wave, dominated by FlirT variants, takes over the United States, The Food and Drug Administration has approved updated Covid-19 vaccines that specifically target recent variant of the disease - KP.2.
The vaccines made by Pfizer (PFE.N), and Moderna (MRNA.O), to be given for 6 months and above population, will be available in the coming days to enable people to fight the current variants of Covid-19. The new shots are expected to provide relief to the high-risk group at risk of hospitalization and death from the new strains in circulation.
Covid cases have been on rise in the recent weeks as the hospitalisation cases driven by summer wave this year nearly doubled compared to last summer.
FDA had asked vaccine manufacturers in June to target the variant, if feasible.
Here are 5 things you want to know about the new Covid shots
Specifically targeted for new variant
FDA says the latest vaccines have been designed to more closely target currently circulating variants dubbed as FLirT variants apart from better protection against the disease's severe symptoms. The older shots targeted a variant that is no longer circulating and were thus less effective.
The variant that vaccine targets no longer dominant
While KP.2 is no longer a dominant variant, it is still related to other variants currently in circulation in the United States. Health regulators hope to protect against circulating variants by targeting closely related forms such as KP.2.
Who can get this vaccine?
The use of Moderna's shot, branded as Spikevax, and Comirnaty, jointly developed by Pfizer and BioNTech (22UAy.DE) have been approved by FDA. This can be given to both children aged six months and older, and adults. The shots for children below 12 years are cleared under the agency's emergency use authorization pathway.
Benefits for elderlyWhile most of the people have acquired immunity against the virus from infections or vaccinations, elderly and immunocompromised are at risk of complications and death. The vaccines are set to offer protection to them.
No approval for Novavax
Protein-based shot made by Novavax (NVAX.O) couldn't get approval yet, but the company says it was working "productively" with the FDA and expects to have authorization in time for peak vaccination season.
(With inputs from Reuters)
