09/12/2023

FDA Approves Updated COVID Vaccines for This Fall

The CDC must still approve them

On Sept. 11, 2023, the U.S. approved updated COVID-19 vaccines, hoping to rev up protection against the latest coronavirus strains and blunt any surge this fall and winter.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decision opens the newest shots from Moderna and Pfizer and its partner BioNTech to most Americans even if they've never had a coronavirus vaccination. It's part of a shift to treat fall updates of the COVID-19 vaccine much like getting a yearly flu shot.

There's still another step: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) must sign off. A CDC advisory panel is set to issue recommendations Tuesday on who most needs the updated shots. Vaccinations could begin later this week, and both the COVID-19 and flu shot can be given at the same visit.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Associated Press.