FDA Approves New Round of COVID-19 Vaccines
Summary from AllSides News Team
The United States Food and Drug Administration approved a new round of vaccines against COVID-19.
Key Quotes: According to a statement from the FDA, the new vaccines “more closely target currently circulating variants" and "provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19, including hospitalization and death." The FDA is "confident in the safety and effectiveness of these updated vaccines and the agency’s benefit-risk assessment demonstrates that the benefits of these vaccines for individuals 6 months of age and older outweigh their risks." The FDA also stated, “"Barring the emergence of a markedly more virulent variant, the FDA anticipates that the composition of COVID-19 vaccines may need to be updated annually, as is done for the seasonal influenza vaccine."
Details: The new vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech have been approved for adults and children 6 months and older. These shots will be the first round of COVID-19 vaccines that are sold commercially by manufacturers and not purchased by the federal government. According to the Wall Street Journal (Center bias), the Moderna vaccine will cost $130 per dose, but many individuals with health insurance will not have to pay out of pocket.
How the Media Covered It: Outlets across the spectrum reported on the new vaccines in tandem with rising case numbers in the U.S. The Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias) included a quote from WHO COVID-19 Technical Lead Maria Van Kerkhove, who stated last week that data on the vaccine’s effectiveness is "quite limited so far."
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
FDA approves new Covid boosters as cases rise around US
The US has approved a series of Covid-19 booster vaccines amid rising cases of coronavirus around the country, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Monday.
The FDA said it had approved Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines, which can be administered even to people who never previously received a Covid-19 vaccination.
Vaccinations with the new shots could begin as soon as this week, the Associated Press reported. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which must also sign off on the vaccines, is due to meet on Tuesday.
From the Right
COVID-19 boosters approved by FDA
The Food and Drug Administration approved updated COVID-19 vaccinations ahead of schedule on Monday as hospitalizations have increased and public health officials are monitoring new strains of the virus.
“The public can be assured that these updated vaccines have met the agency’s rigorous scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality," said Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
From the Center
FDA Approves Newest Covid-19 Boosters
The Food and Drug Administration cleared updated Covid-19 shots, which should protect against the latest versions of the virus now circulating—if people get them.
The vaccines, one from Pfizer and its partner BioNTech and another from Moderna, were greenlighted by the health agency on Monday for adults and children 6 months and older.
The doses should be available at pharmacies, doctor’s offices and other vaccination sites within a few days, if not sooner, after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the shots as early as Tuesday.
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