Bivalent vaccine it is!

The FDA has decided on a bivalent coronavirus vaccine that will target both the original strain and the Omicron sub-variants BA.4/5. These two sub-variants are now the predominant Omicron variants in the US.

As I mentioned earlier the expected timeline from Pfizer and Moderna is broad availability of the updated vaccines by October/November. Though we may see first doses before then. Manufacturing is the bottleneck before anyone asks.

I previously heard from both companies that first doses could be available by end of summer. So I think we could see first doses ready to go sooner than October. Just not enough doses for the entire public that early.

Also Novavax is aiming for some time in the fourth quarter of 2022 for its Omicron specific vaccine.

Interestingly the FDA went with targeting BA.4/5. The WHO's advisory committee more leaned to targeting BA.1. Both decisions are educated guesses and justifiable for different reasons. The future is unpredictable.

Also as noted in the release, just to make clear this update pertains only to the booster doses. The primary series will remain the original strain as a base of protection.