U.S. CDC Considers Simplified COVID-19 Vaccination Authorizations

The U.S. CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) conducted a digital meeting today led by Dr. Grace Lee focused on the U.S. FDA's updated COVID-19 vaccine emergency use authorizations (EUAs).

The EUAs were structured by the FDA on April 18, 2023, to simplify the use of bivalent mRNA vaccines for all doses and indications administered to individuals ages six months and older and additional mRNA dose(s) for specific populations.

These changes did not impact the Novavax protein-based COVID-19 vaccine (Nuvaxovid™, CovoVax™).

The ACIP also reviewed the following presentations on April 19, 2023:

• Vaccine safety updates,
• Vaccine effectiveness data updates,
• Epidemiology and hospitalization data,
• Benefit-risk analysis,
• Considerations for transition to bivalent primary series,
• Future directions of COVID-19 vaccines, including updates to vaccine policy.

Both the CDC and FDA staff confirmed today that a meeting in June 2023 would offer additional clarity before any Fall 2023 COVID-19 vaccination program,