The Los Angeles Post
U.S. World Business Lifestyle
Today: April 10, 2025
Today: April 10, 2025

US clears updated COVID shots from Novavax, adding a 3rd fall vaccine option

August 30, 2024

U.S. regulators have cleared a third updated COVID-19 vaccine for this fall, shots made by Novavax Inc.

Already, Pfizer and Moderna are shipping shots modified to better match more recent strains of the ever-evolving coronavirus. Those doses can be used in adults and children as young as 6 months.

Friday, the Food and Drug Administration gave the OK to the updated Novavax formula, too โ€” and those shots are open to anyone 12 and older.

While most Americans have some degree of immunity from prior infections or vaccinations or both, that protection wanes. Despite this summer's wave, winter surges of COVID-19 tend to be worse and health officials are urging Americans to get one of the vaccine options this fall.

Novavax makes a protein-based vaccine mixed with an immune booster, a different technology than Pfizer and Modernaโ€™s so-called mRNA vaccines.

This year thereโ€™s another slight difference in the formulations. The Pfizer and Moderna recipes are tailored to a virus subtype called KP.2. The Novavax formula targets its parent strain, called JN.1. The FDA considers both closely enough related to currently circulating strains to offer cross-protection.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Instituteโ€™s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Related Articles

Novavax gets EU authorization for updated COVID vaccine targeting JN.1 strain Georgia prosecutors urge Supreme Court to keep Mark Meadowsโ€™ election subversion case in state court Special counsel files evidence under seal against Trump in election subversion case Special counsel can present โ€˜substantialโ€™ new evidence against Trump in January 6 case, judge rules
Share This

Popular

Americas|Entertainment|Health|Sports|World

Hope of finding survivors fades in aftermath of Dominican club roof collapse

Hope of finding survivors fades in aftermath of Dominican club roof collapse
Environment|Europe|Health|Political|World

Pope Francis meets privately with King Charles and Queen Camilla during his Vatican convalescence

Pope Francis meets privately with King Charles and Queen Camilla during his Vatican convalescence
Health|Political|US

Trump administration plans to remove all members of HIV advisory council

Trump administration plans to remove all members of HIV advisory council
Environment|Health|US

Californians in wildfire areas urged to test for lead poisoning

Californians in wildfire areas urged to test for lead poisoning

Health

Economy|Health|Political|US

Social Security abandons phone service cuts after backlash

Social Security abandons phone service cuts after backlash
Business|Economy|Health|Political|US

Prescription drugs become a target in Trump's trade war

Prescription drugs become a target in Trump's trade war
Health|Science

Heavy drinking linked with lasting impact on the brain, study finds

Heavy drinking linked with lasting impact on the brain, study finds
Economy|Health|US

HIV survivor owes $201K to Social Security after getting his disability benefits cut

HIV survivor owes $201K to Social Security after getting his disability benefits cut

Access this article for free.

Already have an account? Sign In