Photo: Ground Picture / Shutterstock
An advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) voted unanimously on a proposal to simplify the nation’s strategy for vaccinating people against COVID-19.
With this recommendation, they seek to make future vaccines against COVID-19 interchangeable: It doesn’t matter if you get your first dose or a booster, all would have the same formulation targeting the same viral strain(s), regardless of manufacturer.
The vote was unanimous: 21-0 and the committee considered proposals to have an annual COVID vaccination schedule, much like the one the US has for the flu.
If this happens, most people would be advised to get just one vaccine each fall. with a new vaccine that has probably been readjusted to try to match any variants which is expected to spread each winter.
That is, Americans would no longer have to keep track of how many injections they have already received or when.
Making vaccination less complicated and confusing
Dr. Peter Marks, the FDA’s chief vaccine official, explained that because of the rapid evolution [del coronavirus], they have needed to adjust their approach over time. “We are now in a reasonable place to reflect on the development of COVID-19 vaccines to date to see if we can simplify the vaccination approach,” he said.
He added that the goal isfacilitate the process of vaccinating and optimally protect the entire population in the future“.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 15% of people in the US received the last bivalent COVID booster, that targets the parent strain of the virus and the omicron BA.5.
During the discussion, the FDA Marks acknowledges the “mediocre” results in the implementation of the booster. The committee agreed that it is time to update the administration of the COVID vaccine.
“As we move from a pandemic to an endemic phase, Today’s vote marks a great practical victory for the American nation. This will really benefit public health,” said Dr. Ofer Levy, pediatric infectious disease specialist at Harvard Medical.
The committee discussed various ways to improve the vaccination strategy. The advisers expressed their support for a proposal to hold public meetings to guide the selection of strains in vaccines.
After the meetings, the agency would make a formal decision on strain selection and order manufacturers to increase production.
You can also read:
Chewing food well can help you lose weight
Why stress is reflected in our skin