The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised COVID vaccine manufacturers to update their formulas for the upcoming fall doses, with a focus on targeting the KP.2 strain of the JN.1 variant. This recommendation follows a recent vote by the agency’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) in favor of a “monovalent JN.1-lineage vaccine.”
As of the end of March 2024, the KP.2 variant accounted for only 4% of infections in the U.S., as per data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). However, within a few weeks, the proportion of infections caused by the KP.2 strain has surged to around 28%, while the prevalence of JN.1 variants has decreased significantly.
Dr. Marc Siegel, a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a medical contributor to Fox News, emphasized the importance of targeting the KP.2 strain due to its increasing dominance across the country, particularly in California. According to Dr. Siegel, the KP.2 strain is highly immunoevasive, meaning that existing immunity from previous variants may not provide adequate protection.
On a positive note, the updated vaccine formulations are expected to stimulate the production of immune cells and antibodies that can offer continued protection against previous variants and subvariants. This is particularly crucial for high-risk individuals, such as those with chronic illnesses, the elderly, and individuals in close contact with these groups.
Novavax, a vaccine manufacturer known for its protein-based vaccines, has recently submitted an application for a JN.1 COVID vaccine. The company stated that its updated vaccine is effective against current circulating strains, including KP.2 and KP.3, aligning with regulatory guidance from the FDA, European Medicines Agency (EMA), and the World Health Organization (WHO) for targeting the JN.1 lineage in the upcoming fall season.
Fox News Digital reached out to other prominent vaccine producers such as Pfizer and Moderna, known for their mRNA-based vaccines, to inquire about their plans for fall vaccine formulations. Additional updates and insights on this topic can be found on the Health section of the Fox News website.