COVID-19 Vaccine Strategy Might Follow The Influenza Shot Way, FDA To Decide Today

The FDA is considering a significant shift in the U.S.'s COVID-19 vaccine strategy to simplify vaccination against COVID-19.
Citing an undisclosed federal official, NPR wrote the agency might look at an approach similar to that used for the flu vaccine, with annual updates to match whatever strain the virus is circulating.
Under the new approach, most people would be advised to get the vaccine's latest version annually each fall.
The FDA will outline the strategy publicly Monday when it releases a set of documents in advance of a meeting Thursday of the agency's Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. The committee will vote on the agency's proposal.
Last week, The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigated a "preliminary signal" of the likelihood of a stroke among elderly people who received a Covid-19 vaccine booster manufactured by Pfizer Inc PFE and BioNTech SE BNTX.
Related: Israel Says No Stroke Risk Associated With Pfizer/BioNTech Updated COVID-19 Shots.
Currently, people who want to be fully vaccinated against COVID have first to get their primary vaccinations — two shots of the original vaccine spaced weeks apart, followed by a booster, the bivalent omicron adapted shot.
Some immunologists and vaccine researchers say simplifying the process along the lines of the flu vaccine is appropriate at this point in the pandemic. However, many questions remain about the emerging booster strategy.
Photo by Johaehn from Pixabay

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