The US Food and Drug Administration approved the new COVID vaccine, including the current spreading Omicron variant KP.2 strain of SARS-CoV-2.

According to the FDA, the vaccines have been updated to target current circulating variants and provide better protection against serious consequences from the disease, including hospitalization and death. 

The updated vaccines are approved for individuals 12 years of age and older, and the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are both authorized for emergency use for individuals six months through 11 years of age.

Vaccines are expected to be available within a few days.

What You Need to Know

  • Unvaccinated pepole six months through four years of age can receive three doses of the updated Pfizer vaccine or two doses of the updated Moderna vaccine.
  • Individuals 6 months through 4 years of age who have previously been vaccinated against COVID-19 are eligible to receive one or two doses of the updated Moderna or Pfizer vaccines (the timing and number of doses to administer depend on the previous COVID-19 vaccine received).
  • Regardless of previous vaccination, individuals 5 through 11 years of age are eligible to receive a single dose of the updated, authorized Moderna or Pfizer vaccines; if previously vaccinated, the dose is administered at least two months after the last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Individuals 12 years of age and older are eligible to receive a single dose of the updated, approved Comirnaty or the updated, approved Spikevax; if previously vaccinated, the dose must be administered at least two months after the last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.
  • Additional doses are authorized for certain immunocompromised individuals ages 6 months through 11 years, as described in the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine fact sheets.