FDA: New COVID Jabs Should Target XBB Variants

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The Facts

  • On Monday, in documents released ahead of an upcoming meeting, staff reviewers from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stated that COVID vaccines developed and manufactured for 2023-24 should target the currently dominant XBB variants.

  • With the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee scheduled to convene Thursday, the FDA has recommended a focus on a monovalent shot targeting strains XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16, and XBB.2.3 of the Omicron subvariant.


The Spin

Narrative A

While the US has officially ended the public health emergency for COVID, the virus is still circulating and the XBB variants have become dominant. While the good news is that vaccines continue to prevent death and serious illnesses, it seems unlikely that we have seen the last of the pandemic. With stressors ranging from climate change and urbanization to animal migration, now is not the time to let our guard down on COVID or other deadly viruses.

Narrative B

There is a reason why most Americans are rejecting yet another booster shot being pumped out by big pharma. People around the world had their lives put on hold for nearly two years, had their businesses ruined, and saw loved ones pass without being able to say goodbye. Then they were extorted into getting an experimental vaccine to get their basic liberties back, only for it not to work as originally promised. The people aren't buying it anymore.


Metaculus Prediction