FDA approves latest version of Pfizer's COVID-19 mRNA vaccine
by Don Jacobson · UPIAug. 27 (UPI) -- Pfizer and BioNTech announced Thursday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved newly updated version of their COVID-19 vaccine, which has been formulated to attack the now-dominant variant of the virus.
The FDA has given the thumbs-up on their 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccine formula specifically targeting the XFG variant for use in adults ages 65 years and older, the drugmakers announced in a release.
The approval for mRNA-type vaccine, called COMIRNATY XFG, also covers people ages 5 through 64 with at least one underlying condition that puts them at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19.
"This season's Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine will begin shipping immediately and will be available in pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics across the U.S. in the coming days," the companies said.
The Pfizer/BioNTech COMIRNATY vaccine "continues to demonstrate a favorable safety and efficacy profile supported by extensive real-world evidence as well as clinical, non-clinical, pharmacovigilance, and manufacturing data," its makers said.
This season's version is coming out as COVID-19 is now mainly regarded as common respiratory ailment rather than the all-out emergency it presented in 2020 and 2021.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week assessed that the amount of acute respiratory illness causing people to seek treatment is "very low," while national and regional COVID-19 activity is increasing.
"CDC has observed a trend of declining COVID-19 hospitalizations nationally over time," the agency said. "However, it remains possible that there could be larger increases this summer, particularly if a variant that the immune system no longer recognizes becomes more common."
The health officials' scenario modeling indicates that regions which did not experience a substantial level of COVID-19 activity during the most recent winter months -- namely the U.S. South and West -- are expected to experience increases in COVID-19 activity as fall approaches.
The XFG variant, more commonly known as Stratus, is the latest mutation that began gaining momentum last year.
Stratus shows "marginal additional immune evasion" over the previous dominant strain known as Nimbus, according to the World Health Organization, meaning it has developed a slightly better ability to avoid being recognized and attacked by the immune system.
Protesters march against COVID-19 vaccine mandates in Washington
Protesters make their way to the Lincoln Memorial during a demonstration against COVID-19 vaccine mandates on the National Mall in Washington on Sunday. Photo by Jemal Countess/UPI | License Photo