Moderna Requests FDA Approval of Updated Covid Vaccine

Life has returned to a reasonable level of normalcy after the pandemic. Masks mandates have been lifted and people have returned to the office. But, is Covid-19 still a threat?

Last week, Moderna submitted an application seeking approval of its updated Covid vaccine for fall by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The shot targets omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 which is the dominant strain of the virus nationwide as well as one of the most immune-evasive strains to date.

The FDA recommended that vaccine makers update their injections to target this particular strain after several companies like Moderna, Pfizer and Novavax had already begun to develop new versions.

According to CNBC, the FDA will review Moderna’s available efficacy and safety data on the vaccine in order to approve it for the fall.

Unfortunately, the question “Is Covid still a threat?” is not an easy one to answer. As of May 5, 2023, COVID-19 is no longer considered a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). However, the disease still remains a global health threat, is still changing and here to stay, according to Gavi The Vaccine Alliance.