U.S. regulators have approved updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, shots aimed at revving up protection this fall and winter.

The U.S. approved updated COVID-19 vaccines Monday, hoping to rev up protection against the latest coronavirus strains and blunt any surge this fall and winter.

The Food and Drug Administration decision opens the newest shots from Moderna and Pfizer and its partner BioNTech to most Americans even if they’ve never had a coronavirus vaccination. It’s part of a shift to treat fall updates of the COVID-19 vaccine much like getting a yearly flu shot.

There’s still another step: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must sign off. A CDC advisory panel is set to issue recommendations Tuesday on who most needs the updated shots. Vaccinations could begin later this week, and both the COVID-19 and flu shot can be given at the same visit.

  • Silverseren
    17•2 years ago

    Does the latter part mean it won’t be available to the broader public until October, since they will be focused on the elderly and such first?

      • Flying Squid
        42•2 years ago

        What on earth are you talking about? Coronaviruses and influenza viruses are only related in that they’re both viruses. You’re essentially relating a zebra and a bumblebee because they both have stripes.

        • @Nurgle@lemmy.world
          11•2 years ago

          What? They’re clearly saying that Covid is as dangerous as the flu. They’re obviously wrong and also downplaying the importance of getting a flu shot, but they’re not talking about the genetic relationship of the two.

            • @Nurgle@lemmy.world
              3•2 years ago

              Well it’s just that, it’s willful. It’s a lot easier to say it’s just another flu than to worry about the reality of the situation.

              • @Sl00k@programming.dev
                1•2 years ago

                Isn’t the situation essentially equivalent to the flu at this point in time?

                I’m choosing not to get any more boosters since my last one gave me severe side effects for 3 months, but would if absolutely necessary.

      • Silverseren
        35•2 years ago

        My roommates both have health difficulties that would put them at high risk if they contracted Covid. So the least I can do is make sure I am vaccinated and masked to reduce the risk of me contracting it and infecting them.

        Because I’m not a terrible person that only thinks about myself.