Moderna has received emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Omicron-specific COVID-19 booster shot, the firm announced Wednesday.
The jab is the first reformulated shot to receive the regulatory green light in the U.S. It has been approved for all adults aged 18 and older. Pfizer, Moderna’s main competitor in the rollout of COVID-19 shots, is expected to receive similar approval soon as well.
The new shots will raise antibody protections against the Omicron variant – which includes all of the most infectious strains of the virus yet. Previous versions of the shot were tailored to the original Wuhan Covid strain, and the virus has since mutated to evade the protection they provided.
Regulators have aimed to get the shots out by September ahead of another potential spike in cases as the weather gets colder. Some experts disagree with the shot’s approval, though, saying they provide little of value as the current crop of vaccines still are effective against hospitalization and death caused by the virus.
Read More: Moderna receives FDA green light for Omicron COVID-19 booster