Are COVID-19 Vaccinations a Never-Ending Battle?

By Kenisha Malik

September 1, 2022

The FDA (Food and Drug Association) has come up with a third booster dose.

We all wonder, “ Haven’t we had enough?”

Why is it that they keep introducing boosters?

The third booster for COVID-19 was adjusted by the FDA. The third COVID-19 booster consists of half the original vaccine formula and half protection against the newest omicron versions, BA.4 and BA.5 are the most contagious yet. The FDA will modify the vaccine depending on the version of the COVID-19 virus. Giving us an upper hand on handling COVID-19 updates more like flu shots by making yearly changes.

This could help us with stabilizing COVID-19 cases. An example is when last winter, a strain of omicron called BA.1 struck. Both Pfizer and Moderna had made vaccines fit for earlier mutants including BA.1. After when BA.4 and BA.5 were discovered instead of using BA.1 shots. FDA ordered companies to make more up-to-date vaccines. After animal testing, the FDA vaccine chief said that there is “a very good immune response.” Due to this response, the FDA made the decision to no longer allow boosters made with the original recipe for those 12 and older. They plan to allow updated boosters for 5- to 11-year-olds in early October. The U.S. has purchased more than 170 million doses from the two companies (Pfizer and Moderna). Apart from the US, European regulators are considering whether to authorize one or both of the updated formulas.

Even though the original vaccines still offer good protection against severe disease and death from COVID-19 for people with less and or no medical issues, especially if they got that important first booster dose. The FDA believes that this is the best hands-on approach to deal with problems that arise by making a system where the vaccines are updated every year.

What do you think?

Should updated boosters be implemented all around the world?

Let us know in the comments!

Works Cited

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Goodman, Naomi Cnn Thomas And Brenda. “FDA Authorizes Pfizer and Moderna’s Updated Covid-19 Boosters.” CNN, 31 Aug. 2022, edition.cnn.com/2022/08/31/health/fda-covid-vaccine-updated-booster-authorized/index.html. Stacey, Kiran. “US Approves Omicron Vaccines from Moderna and BioNTech/Pfizer.” Financial Times, 31 Aug. 2022, www.ft.com/content/41937336-48b0-4a9a-bb20-6a91e6e91d0b. Tashima, Karen. “Coronavirus Vaccines and the Facts (Updated October 2021).” Lifespan, 8 Nov. 2021, www.lifespan.org/lifespan-living/coronavirus-vaccines-and-facts.