Advisers to FDA weigh in on updated COVID boosters for the fall

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/04/06/ [login to see] /advisers-to-fda-weigh-in-on-updated-covid-boosters-for-the-fall
In a daylong virtual meeting, a panel of experts advising the Food and Drug Administration came out in general support of efforts to develop new COVID-19 vaccines tailored to variants.

The committee wasn't asked to vote on any specific recommendations to the agency but instead discussed the framework for making decisions about when to change the viral strain or strains used for future vaccines, including boosters.

"I think we're in uncharted territory because with SARS-CoV-2 a lot of things have happened that have never happened before," said Dr. Arnold Monto, professor emeritus at the University of Michigan and acting chair of the committee.

It's likely the panel will reconvene in May or June to consider a more specific proposal for reformulation of COVID-19 vaccines.

The process used to tweak annual flu vaccines to match circulating strains is one model that may inform the process for COVID-19, but there are still many unknowns about how the coronavirus may change and stark differences between the influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2.