When Will Europe Authorize COVID-19 Vaccines Targeting BA.x Variants?

The Financial Times reported yesterday Emer Cooke, head of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), said in an interview that reviewing 'available (COVID-19 vaccine) data was paramount and that her agency would stand firm.'

"Irrespective of what is happening, we have to have confidence in the vaccines that we authorize, and that is our primary responsibility as we have done with all the vaccines that have been presented to us."

"All this comparison between BA.1 and BA.4/BA.5 is something I think we're over-focusing on at the moment," Cooke added on August 6, 2022.

"Promises are not enough for me."

'We are working towards possible approvals of adapted vaccines in September,' said Cooke in July 2022.

Previously, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the EMA recommended that second booster doses of the current mRNA COVID-19 vaccines be considered for people between 60 and 79 years old and people with medical conditions putting them at high risk of severe disease.

Additionally, residents at long-term care homes are likely at risk of severe disease and should be considered for booster doses in line with national recommendations.

However, as of July 13, 2022, the EMA stated, 'At the moment, there is no clear evidence to support giving a second booster dose to people below 60 years of age who are not at higher risk of severe disease.'

'Neither is there clear evidence to support giving early second boosters to healthcare workers or those working in long-term care homes unless they are at high risk.'

Additional COVID-19 vaccine information is posted at CoronavirusToday.com/COVID19.

Note: This EMA information from FT.com was manually curated for mobile readership.