COVID vaccine companies told to focus on KP.2 variant for fall shots, per FDA announcement
What specific recommendations did the FDA make regarding the update of COVID vaccine formulas for the fall doses?
The FDA recommended that COVID vaccine manufacturers update their formulas for fall doses to target the KP.2 strain of the JN.1 variant. This recommendation came after the agency's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) voted in favor of a "monovalent JN.1-lineage vaccine" at its June 5 meeting. The decision aims to better match the vaccines with the currently circulating variants and provide improved protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death.
Which COVID-19 variant strain has the FDA advised vaccine manufacturers to target in their updated formulas?
The FDA has advised COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers to target the KP.2 strain of the JN.1 variant in their updated formulas. This recommendation came after a rise in COVID-19 cases and the most current data suggesting that the KP.2 strain should be the preferred variant for the updated vaccines to target2. The FDA has communicated this change to the manufacturers of the licensed and authorized COVID-19 vaccines2.
What concerns did Dr. Marc Siegel express about the KP.2 strain's ability to evade immunity provided by previous variants?
Dr. Marc Siegel expressed concerns about the KP.2 strain's ability to evade immunity provided by previous variants, stating that it is "highly immunoevasive5." This means that the immunity acquired from previous variants and subvariants may not offer much protection against the KP.2 strain. However, he also mentioned that the vaccine targeting KP.2 would produce immune cells and antibodies that would continue to protect against previous variants and subvariants.