FDA Approves New mRNA Monovalent COVID Booster Shots, But Pfizer Only Tested Mice
On Sept. 11, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated monovalent versions of the Pfizer/BioNTech messenger RNA (mRNA) Comirnaty and Moderna/NIAID’s mRNA Spikevax COVID-19 shots. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) signed off on the new shots the day after FDA’s approval, recommending […]
COVID Shot Transmits Aerosolized Antibodies to Those Who’ve Not Gotten It: Study
A peer reviewed study recently published in Immunohorizons has provided evidence that individuals, who received messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 shots, are able to transmit aerosolized antibodies to unvaccinated individuals. The study, which was originally reported in preprint in May 2022, looked at masks worn for one day by laboratory workers who received a COVID shot. […]
Childhood Vaccination Programs Face Major Cuts in Federal Funding
State vaccination programs for children will face a reduction in funding from U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants. The federal immunization grant program, which funds the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, totaled approximately $680 million last year.1 The reduction in funding is alleged to be due to the debt ceiling deal reached […]
CDC Says All Children Traveling Abroad Need Extra MMR Shot to Prevent Measles in U.S.
After 16 cases of measles were reported in the U.S. linked to international travel, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health alert on June 21, 2023, recommending that all eligible infants aged six months or older get an extra measles vaccine before traveling abroad this summer. Despite being licensed by […]
FDA Revokes EUA for Johnson & Johnson/Janssen’s COVID Vaccine
On June 1, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) withdrew the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) Johnson & Johnson/Janssen’s adenovirus vectored Ad26.COV2.S (also known as JNJ-78436735) COVID-19 vaccine that had been granted to the companies on Feb. 27, 2021. The FDA noted that Janssen requested the voluntary withdrawal of the EUA in a letter […]
RSV Vaccine Approved by FDA for Adults 60 and Older
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a license for the world’s first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine to be given to people 60 years of age and older. Pharmaceutical and biotechnology company GSK (formerly GlaxoSmithKline) has already begun manufacturing doses of the vaccine, which will be sold as early as this fall […]