FDA has authorized bivalent COVID-19 boosters from Moderna (Nasdaq:MRNA) and Pfizer/BioNTech (NYSE:PFE/Nasdaq:BNTX).
The FDA has authorized the updated Moderna vaccine as a single booster dose in individuals at least 18 years old. In addition, the agency authorized the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for those at least 12 years old.
Individuals in those age groups who have waited at least two months after receiving a second or third dose of a monovalent COVID-19 vaccine are eligible for the bivalent COVID-19 boosters.
The updated Moderna mRNA-1273.222 and Pfizer/BioNTech BNT162b5 vaccines could be available at U.S. vaccination sites in the coming days.
The updated COVID-19 vaccines encode the spike protein from the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant.
According to data from Walgreens, the omicron variant is responsible for nearly 100% of COVID-19 infections in the U.S.
Clinical trial data suggeste…