As 1 in 4 new cases, a JN.1 branch is currently the predominant strain in the United States.
In Short
- CDC advisory council to release vaccine recommendations for autumn.
- JN.1 strain is the current predominant Covid variant in the US.
- FDA panel suggests updating vaccines to target JN.1 or its offshoots.
- Pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Moderna are preparing updated vaccines.
- Hospitalizations remain low, but vigilance is necessary as case numbers show slight increases.
Vaccine scientists are already planning for the winter with an eye toward averting a seasonal rise, even though Covid instances in the United States are still low.
On Wednesday, a panel advising to the Food and Drug Administration unanimously suggested updating the Covid vaccines scheduled for fall to target the highly contagious JN.1 strain or one of its offspring.
JN.1 first surfaced in the United States in late August and took over as the most common strain by January.
Soon after, JN.1 gave rise to a number of offshoots, notably KP.1.1 and KP.2, the so-called FLiRT variations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, KP.2 surpassed JN.1 to become the predominant strain in the United States in mid-May and is currently responsible for more than 1 in 4 new infections.
During the conference on Wednesday, Natalie Thornburg, a research microbiologist at the CDC, stated that the coronavirus seems to be following a predictable pattern: in the early winter, a dominant strain known as the “parent” strain gains ground, and by spring, a few offspring start to show up. She noted that the XBB strain from the previous year did the same thing, dominating in the winter but producing offshoots in the spring.
Although most panel members expressed a preference for JN.1, the suggestion of the panel did not specify whether to include the “parent” JN.1 strain or one of its progeny.
Following the vote, panel member Dr. Bruce Gellin, chief of global public health strategy at the Rockefeller Foundation, remarked, “I think we’re better off sticking with the trunk of the tree for the time being.
The committee was encouraged to take into account one of the more recent strains, such KP.2, by Dr. Peter Marks, the FDA’s chief vaccine regulator.
Marks made reference to the rapidity with which new mRNA-based vaccination shots can be created and delivered, saying, “We are paying an incredibly high premium for mRNA vaccines to be able to have the freshest vaccines.”
“Will we regret not having been a little bit closer?” he said.
The FDA is anticipated to decide soon which strain it will recommend to manufacturers to focus on. That will begin the creation of the revised doses, which will be given out as a component of the vaccination program for fall.
Pfizer declared on Wednesday that it could make the upgraded Covid vaccines accessible “immediately upon approval” from the FDA, while Moderna stated that it might start distributing the doses as early as mid-August.
According to Novavax, plans are underway to release an improved vaccination targeting JN.1 in August. The business did state that it will not have an updated shot available for that particular strain for the autumn immunization program, should the FDA choose a different strain. Novavax uses a protein-based vaccine, which takes longer to manufacture than the mRNA-based vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna.
The latest vaccination, which targets the now-extinct subvariant XBB.1.5, should not produce as many antibodies against circulating strains of the virus as the JN.1 vaccine, according to data provided by all three drugmakers on Wednesday. The older vaccination will be phased out as soon as the upgraded version becomes available.
Hospitalizations for COVID-19 are still at their lowest points since the pandemic began in 2020, despite some signs that the number of cases may be beginning to rise.
According to CDC data, the weekly test positivity rate increased from 3.4% the week before to 4.2% as of May 25. In contrast, the weekly test positivity rate was almost 30% in early 2022, when the omicron form started to spread quickly. According to Thornburg, almost every American has acquired protection against Covid by vaccination, infection, or a combination of the two.
She stated, “We’re sitting at about just below 100% seroprevalence,” which is the percentage of a population that has been exposed to a virus.
A CDC advisory council is scheduled to release recommendations later this month over who should receive the vaccine in the autumn.
Conclusion
The upcoming recommendations from the CDC advisory council are crucial in shaping the autumn vaccination program, targeting the JN.1 strain to prevent a rise in Covid cases. As pharmaceutical companies prepare updated vaccines, public health efforts continue to adapt to the evolving virus. Staying informed and following guidelines will be key in maintaining low hospitalization rates and ensuring community safety.
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