FDA approves emergency authorization for Novavax's updated COVID-19 vaccine

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has encouraged Americans older than six months to get one updated COVID-19 booster shot, and one flu shot this year.

By Misty Severi

Published: August 30, 2024 7:34pm

The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday granted an emergency use authorization for the updated Novavax COVID-19 vaccine.

The authorization is for the JN.1 strain of the virus, and has been approved for people 12 years old and over. Doses of the vaccine are expected to be available at the end of next week.

The FDA has already approved updated vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, which target the KP.2 variant. Neither the JN.1 strain or the KP.2 variants are the dominant strain. KP.3.1.1. Is the most common variant, accounting for 42% of the cases.

"COVID-19 continues to be a very real risk for many people, and we encourage individuals to consider getting an updated COVID-19 vaccine when eligible," Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a statement. “Today’s authorization provides an additional COVID-19 vaccine option."

The authorization comes after COVID-19 hospitalizations increased over the past three months nationwide.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.