Currently, Pfizer’s and Moderna’s omicron shots are authorized as a booster, while the first two doses are still the old shots based on the original strain.
Preliminary CDC data indicated a possible stroke risk following simultaneous administration of the Pfizer Covid booster and the flu vaccine.
The public health emergency extension occurs amid concern that the nation may face another wave of hospitalizations from the disease this winter.
XBB.1.5 made up 27.6% of sequenced Covid cases nationally for the week ending Jan. 7 compared to 18.3% for the week end Dec. 31.
The WHO does not have any data yet on the severity of XBB.1.5, but there’s no indication it makes people sicker than previous subvariants, top official said.
XBB.1.5 now represents about 41% of new cases nationwide in the U.S., according to CDC data.
Nearly 161,000 nursing home residents have died from Covid since 2020.
The latest omicron subvariants could cause a surge of breakthrough infections and reinfections, a new study finds.
The CDC approval comes a day after the Food and Drug Administration gave its authorization.
The BQ coronavirus subvariants are likely resistant to key antibody medications used by people with compromised immune systems.
The study did not look at hospitalization, but experts believe the omicron booster shots will provide strong protection against severe outcomes.
Pfizer said the booster triggered more antibodies against omicron BQ.1.1, BA.4.6, BA.2.75.2 and XBB.1 in adults older than 55 compared to the original vaccines.
Moderna found that the new booster triggered five times more antibodies against omicron BA.5 than the old vaccines in people with prior Covid infections.
Omicron subvariants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 now make up 44% of new Covid cases, compared with 32% last week, according to CDC data.
Shortly after new omicron Covid boosters were introduced, the ‘Scrabble’ variants emerged. Experts weigh in on how the updated vaccines may fare against them.
White House chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci said Covid deaths are too high heading into the winter.
The FDA pushed back against two independent studies that found the new boosters don’t trigger a better immune response than the old shots.
President Biden cautioned that the immunocompromised are at heightened risk this winter and should talk to their physician about precautions.
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}
){kind=link}