The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will convene in the coming weeks to decide whether to authorize a second dose of the updated COVID-19 booster for Americans who are older or have a weakened immune system. The bivalent booster was designed specifically to target the omicron variants of COVID-19. Research shows that the virus has now evolved to resist the original vaccine formulation, including the first round of boosters. By contrast studies have demonstrated that the updated booster doses worked remarkably well to lower the risk of death. People who received the updated omicron booster had a 100% lower risk of dying from COVID-19 compared to those who did not get the updated vaccine. When compared to unvaccinated individuals, people who received the new booster reduced their risk of death by 1,300%. If the FDA votes to authorize the second booster dose, the CDC would also have to sign off on it. Health officials anticipate the implementation of an annual booster campaign similar to the strategy for flu shots.
Full Story: Reuters