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Older adults gain new COVID vaccine option as FDA approves protein-based shot
The US Food and Drug Administration has fully approved a new COVID-19 vaccination option specifically targeting high-risk individuals, including seniors. The protein-based Nuvaxovid vaccine, produced by Novavax, received official approval on May 19 for adults 65 and older, as well as people ages 12 to 64 with health conditions that increase their risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes. READ MORE
FDA To Restrict COVID-19 Vaccine Approval To Seniors, Others At High Risk
The AP (5/20, Perrone, Neergaard) reports the Trump Administration "said Tuesday it will limit approval for seasonal COVID-19 shots to seniors and others at high risk pending more data on everyone else." Top FDA officials "laid out new standards for updated COVID shots, saying they’d continue to use a streamlined approach to make them available to adults 65 and older as well as children and younger adults with at least one high-risk health problem." However, the FDA framework published Tuesday in the New England Journal of Medicine "urges companies to conduct large, lengthy studies before tweaked vaccines can be approved for healthier people."
The Washington Post (5/20, A1, Roubein, Sun, 10.52M) reports that "the new guidelines indicate updated vaccines will probably be available in the fall for Americans over the age of 65, as well as those older than 6 months who have at least one condition putting them at higher risk of severe illness, as well as people with conditions such as asthma, diabetes, cancer and obesity, in addition to pregnant women."
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