New COVID booster shots could be coming, aimed at targeting the omicron variant and the BA.5 subvariant currently dominating cases in the U.S.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to authorize bivalent formulations of the vaccines for use as a single booster dose at least two months following primary or booster vaccination. The bivalent vaccines, which we will also refer to as “updated boosters,” contain two messenger RNA (mRNA) components of SARS-CoV-2 virus, one of the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and the other one in common between the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.
“The FDA has been planning for the possibility that the composition of the COVID-19 vaccines would need to be modified to address circulating variants,” Peter Marks, M.D., director of the FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in an agency news release announcing the emergency approval. “We sought input from our outside experts on the inclusion of an omicron component in COVID-19 boosters to provide better protection against COVID-19. We have worked closely with the vaccine manufacturers to ensure the development of these updated boosters was done safely and efficiently. The FDA has extensive experience with strain changes for annual influenza vaccines. We are confident in the evidence supporting these authorizations.”
FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, M.D., urged Americans to get the new boosters. “As we head into fall and begin to spend more time indoors, we strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to consider receiving a booster dose with a bivalent [targets both the original virus and the omicron variants] COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants,” he said in the news release.
Who is eligible to receive a single booster dose and when:
- Individuals 18 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.
- Individuals 12 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.
How to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment
We’re here to support you every step of the way throughout your vaccination journey while keeping your health and safety our top priority. Prepare to schedule
• Create a Walgreens.com account ahead of time to make scheduling fast and easy
• Get updates on vaccine availability near you at Walgreens.com/VaccineUpdates
Schedule appointment(s)
Schedule online at Walgreens.com/ ScheduleVaccine, call 1-800-Walgreens or download the free Walgreens App
