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As the COVID-19 case count continues to tick upward, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved an updated vaccine for use ahead of the Northern Hemisphere winter. The emergency use authorization covers updated mRNA vaccines from both Pfizer and Moderna.
The booster shots will target the JN.1 and KP.2 strains of SARS-CoV-2, both of which are omicron variants. Last year’s booster keyed on omicron subvariant XBB.1.5, which has long since lost the evolutionary arms race.
Both Spikevax (Moderna) and Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccines have been updated. While the vaccine is targeted toward those 12 and over, children age six months through 11 years are also eligible for the updated vaccines under the FDA’s emergency use authorization.
“Vaccination continues to be the cornerstone of COVID-19 prevention,” said Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “These updated vaccines meet the agency’s rigorous, scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality. Given waning immunity of the population from previous exposure to the virus and from prior vaccination, we strongly encourage those who are eligible to consider receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants.”
Updated vaccines will hit hospitals and pharmacies soon, as Moderna and Pfizer are ready to ship vaccines. Once injected, the boosters will take a couple of weeks to hit peak protection, and they will offer that level of protection for a few months after the shot. Keep that in mind as you think about timing your booster for maximum efficacy.