COVID-19 Vaccine Refresh For Boosters Only? US FDA Position On Primary Series May Have Shifted

FDA advisors will vote 28 June on whether an Omicron component should be included in new COVID-19 booster vaccines. Following WHO recommendations, the FDA may no longer also be looking to update the primary vaccine series at this time. 

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VRBPAC preview documents indicate FDA may no longer be committed to updating primary vaccine series at same time as boosters. • Source: Shutterstock

The US Food and Drug Administration appears to be focused on updating COVID-19 vaccine boosters for the fall while leaving the original primary vaccination series in place, briefing documents released ahead of a 28 June Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee indicate.

This position would represent a shift in thinking from the agency’s comments in April, when it said it wanted to update both the primary series and boosters simultaneously to...

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