US regulators have approved a new series of updated and improved COVID-19 vaccines to target a resurgence of the virus as new strains emerge.
Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE, ETR:PFE) and Moderna Inc (NASDAQ:MRNA, ETR:0QF) are set to begin shipping immediately while a third US manufacturer, Novavax, expects to start deliveries later.
“We strongly encourage those who are eligible to consider receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants,” said FDA vaccine chief Peter Marks.
These new shots are targeted at new varieties of the Omicron strain, which have spread widely this year.
Pfizer said it had submitted data to the FDA showing its updated vaccine “generates a substantially improved response” against multiple virus subtypes versus last year’s versions.