Islamabad, 17 June, 2023 (GNP): The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it is recommending drug makers to update the Covid booster shots to target XBB.1.5, the predominant coronavirus strain in the United States.
This recommendation follows the unanimous support from the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee to modify the vaccines to target the circulating strain of the virus.
The FDA has advised manufacturers to develop vaccines with a monovalent XBB 1.5 composition based on the totality of evidence. The updated shots are expected to be distributed as early as September as part of a fall booster campaign.
Pfizer has stated that it could distribute reformulated doses as early as the end of July, pending strain selection, while Moderna expects to begin shipping updated doses “by the end of the summer,” pending FDA approval. Novavax anticipates having updated doses available in the fall.
XBB.1.5 currently accounts for approximately 40% of all new Covid cases in the United States. It is followed by XBB.1.16 and XBB.1.9.1. The CDC’s data shows a downward trend in hospitalizations since March, although the seasonal pattern of Covid’s spread is still uncertain.
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The FDA committee members and CDC scientists have highlighted that the current boosters offer some protection against XBB.1.5 but are more effective against previous strains. Animal studies presented by drug makers suggest that an XBB-containing vaccine would provide better protection against the current circulating strains.
The decision to target an XBB strain aligns with recommendations from the World Health Organization and the European Medicines Agency. This update will mark the second modification of Covid vaccines in the United States, following the authorization of BA.4/BA.5 boosters last year.
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In addition to targeting XBB.1.5, the committee supported the removal of the original coronavirus strain from the vaccine formulation, as it has long been out of circulation globally. Removing the ancestral strain may optimize the vaccine response and improve effectiveness.
While the committee endorsed the booster update, members emphasized the need for continued investment in developing more effective and longer-lasting vaccines.
The specific guidelines regarding the administration of the updated boosters will be determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which will hold its advisory committee meeting next week.