The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended this Manufacturers of vaccines against COVID update their fall dose formulas in an effort to target the KP.2 strain of the JN.1 variant.
Thursday’s announcement came just one week after the agency’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) voted to recommend a “monovalent vaccine JN.1-line” at the June 5 meeting.
As of late March 2024, the KP.2 variant was responsible for just 4% of infections in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) COVID data tracker.
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Meanwhile, over 50% of infections at that time were attributed to its parent strain, JN.1.
Just a few weeks later, KP.2 is now the cause of about 28% of infections, while JN.1 variants have largely declined in prevalence, the tracker shows.
The US Food and Drug Administration has recommended that manufacturers of COVID vaccines update their formulas for fall doses in an effort to target the KP.2 strain of the JN.1 variant. (iStock)
Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, recently spoke with Dr. Peter Marks, director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) at the Food and Drug Administration, about new vaccine formulations.
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“It makes sense to target the KP.2 strain because it’s becoming the dominant strain — it’s growing in California and it’s going to spread across the country,” Siegel told Fox News Digital.
KP.2 is now the cause of about 28% of infections, while JN.1 variants have largely declined in prevalence, CDC Tracker data show. (iStock)
Type KP.2 is “highly immunoevasive,” the doctor warned — meaning immunity from earlier variants and subvariants doesn’t offer much protection.
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“In turn, the vaccine will trigger a production of immune cells and antibodies that will continue to protect you against the previous variants and subvariants,” Siegel added.
According to doctors, the updated vaccine is especially important for high-risk groups, those with chronic diseases, the elderly and anyone who comes into contact with them. (iStock)
It is especially important for high-risk groups, those with chronic diseases, the elderly and anyone who comes into contact with them, according to the doctor.
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In a statement to Fox News Digital, vaccine maker Novavax — which makes protein-based vaccines — said the company “just submitted” its application for a JN.1 COVID vaccine.
A vial of the Phase 3 Novavax coronavirus vaccine is seen ready for use in the trial at St. John’s University Hospital. George in London on 7 October 2020. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, File)
“The updated Novavax JN.1 COVID-19 vaccine is active against current circulating strains, including KP.2 and KP.3,” the company said in a press release.
“The delivery complies with guidelines from the US FDA, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and World Health Organization (WHO) to target the JN.1 line this fall.”
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Fox News Digital reached out to Pfizer and Moderna — both of which make mRNA-based vaccines — seeking comment on their plans for fall formulations.