OHA release – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) advisory committee voted unanimously to recommend a COVID-19 vaccine, updated for the 2024-2025 season, to all persons ages 6 months and older. Vaccine manufacturers say they expect the updated COVID-19 vaccine will be available in the U.S. by August or early September. The vote comes three weeks after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) advisory committee voted on recommendations to the vaccine manufacturers about the next COVID-19 vaccine’s formula. At that time, the FDA recommended manufacturers base the formula on the Omicron JN.1 subvariant, which has been the most prevalent strain of the virus during 2024. After further review, the FDA narrowed its recommendation to base the next COVID-19 vaccine on the KP.2 subvariant, which is a close offspring of JN.1. The FDA said this slight change is intended to ensure the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines “more closely match circulating SARS-CoV-2 strains.” The CDC’s vote supports the FDA’s findings and recommendation.
