# FDA advisers back the same COVID vaccine for initial shots, boosters
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2023-01-27
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: FDA Advisers Vote on Annual COVID-19 Boosters
Meta Description: FDA advisory group unanimously supports targeting the same coronavirus strain for initial COVID-19 vaccine doses and boosters. Some experts question need for
URL: https://financedigest.com/fda-advisers-back-the-same-covid-vaccine-for-initial-shots-boostershtml

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By Michael Erman and Leroy Leo

(Reuters) -Advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday unanimously [voted in favor](https://www.financedigest.com/most-twitter-shareholders-vote-in-favor-of-sale-to-musk-sources.html "Most Twitter shareholders vote in favor of sale to Musk-sources") of targeting the same coronavirus strain for initial COVID-19 vaccine doses and boosters going forward, but some expressed skepticism about whether all Americans need to receive the shots annually.

The agency is trying to simplify its [COVID-19 vaccine](https://www.financedigest.com/factbox-countries-making-covid-19-vaccines-mandatory-2.html "Factbox-Countries making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory") policy as it considers whether to recommend Americans get an annual booster shot for the virus. But several members of the expert advisory group asked for more [robust data](https://www.financedigest.com/dollar-buoyant-as-robust-u-s-data-keep-fed-hawks-in-control.html "Dollar buoyant as robust U.S. data keep Fed hawks in control") on benefits of annual shots for younger, healthier people.

“We’re in a very different place. We have a lot of population immunity,” said Hayley Gans, professor of pediatrics at Stanford University Medical Center. “Now that people are immune, how long does that last?”

Vaccine makers Pfizer Inc with partner BioNTech SE and Moderna Inc introduced late last year updated versions of their [COVID](https://www.financedigest.com/first-foreign-covid-vaccines-head-to-china-from-germany.html "First foreign COVID vaccines head to China from Germany") vaccines tailored to target Omicron variants as well as the original coronavirus. In the United States, those were used only as [booster shots](https://www.financedigest.com/u-s-cdc-signs-off-on-moderna-jj-covid-19-vaccine-boosters-mix-and-match-shots.html "U.S. CDC signs off on Moderna, J&J COVID-19 vaccine boosters, mix-and-match shots").

The FDA advisory [group unanimously backed](https://www.financedigest.com/shareholder-group-iss-backs-barclays-board-over-former-ceo-staley.html "Shareholder group ISS backs Barclays board over former CEO Staley") using those shots for the primary series for those who have yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as well.

The FDA said it envisioned holding a meeting later in the [year to determine the composition of shots for the fall](https://www.financedigest.com/spains-november-retail-sales-fall-0-6-on-year.html "Spain’s November retail sales fall 0.6% on year"), although some vaccine makers might be able to produce updated shots more quickly.

Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna were able to produce the currently available messenger RNA boosters in about three months last year, but Novavax Inc said on Thursday it would require six months to make a new version of its protein-based [COVID-19 vaccine designed to match circulating](https://www.financedigest.com/pandemic-restrictions-that-hampered-the-circulation-of-viruses-other-than-covid-19.html "Pandemic restrictions that hampered the circulation of viruses other than COVID-19") coronavirus variants.

FDA would consider an earlier timeline for vaccines like Novavax’s following the company’s manufacturing assessment, Peter Marks, [director of the agency’s](https://www.financedigest.com/adnami-appoints-sophie-spencer-as-uk-agency-sales-director.html "Adnami appoints Sophie Spencer as UK Agency Sales Director") Center for Biologics Evaluation & Research, said.

Health officials in the Biden administration have suggested that annual, updated [COVID-19 booster shots could provide](https://www.financedigest.com/recovery-bus-provides-cool-relief-for-s-koreas-covid-19-testers.html "‘Recovery bus’ provides cool relief for S.Korea’s COVID-19 testers") a high level of protection against severe disease.

(Reporting by Leroy Leo in Bengaluru, Michael Erman in Maplewood, New Jersey; Editing by Bill Berkrot)


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