The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that this year’s COVID-19 booster shots be updated to target one of the currently dominant XBB variants. Vaccine makers like Pfizer/BioNtech, Moderna and Novavax are already developing versions of their respective vaccines targeting XBB.1.5 and other currently circulating strains. WHO also suggested no longer including the original COVID-19 strain in future vaccines, as shots targeting the strain produce “undetectable or very low levels of neutralizing antibodies” against currently circulating variants. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is set to hold a meeting of outside experts in June to discuss the strain compositions of COVID-19 shots for later this year. WHO’s advisory group also recommended that currently approved vaccines should continue to be used in accordance with the agency’s recommendations.
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