Now that both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have released data showing that versions of their vaccines altered to address Omicron produce a more effective immune response against that strain, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisory committee will meet tomorrow to sort through evidence comparing these to the original mRNA-based shots, as well as data on the evolution of variants. Ultimately, it will vote to decide whether or not to recommend the new vaccination compositions as a booster shot to fight both current and possible future variants—or if vaccine manufacturers need to go back to the drawing board. Typically, the FDA follows its advisory panel’s decision, so tomorrow’s meeting will likely determine which booster shots Americans will be getting in the fall.
Fighting Omicron has been the vaccine manufacturers’ mission since the variant first emerged late last year. While Omicron hasn’t caused a major surge in deaths, it has been more effective in getting around vaccine-elicited immunity—at its peak, it drove up case rates significantly, and presented a higher risk of reinfection. An Omicron-specific vaccine would be a godsend—or would have, if it had come many months ago.
The problem is the virus has been mutating rapidly. While Pfizer’s vaccine was tested against the Omicron subvariant BA.2, and Moderna against BA.4 and BA.5, the predominant subvariant in the U.S. is now BA.2.12.1—which is similar, but not identical. Indeed, some scientists have warned that the “new” vaccines might already be outdated, and it’s difficult to predict how the virus will continue to evolve in the coming months.
Exacerbating the problem is the possibility raised by the FDA in its briefing documents that Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna will run into manufacturing problems when they switch over the composition, further putting us behind the ball in chasing SARS-CoV-2. That is especially concerning given that Congress refused a White House request for billions in additional emergency funds in March , leaving manufacturers to more or less make these significant shifts on their own.
Even if the expert committee ultimately decides these new vaccine formulations aren’t worth the extra costs and risks, it’s important to remember that the FDA is still choosing between good options. The available vaccines—the original formulations—still effectively protect people from severe illness and death. So this is really about deciding whether we can raise the next wave of booster shots from an A to an A+.
TODAY'S CORONAVIRUS OUTLOOK
More than 543.6 million people around the world had been diagnosed with COVID-19 as of 3 a.m. E.T. today, and over 6.3 million people have died. On June 26, there were more than 276,000 new cases and 493 new deaths confirmed globally.
Here's how the world as a whole is currently trending, in terms of cases:
And in terms of deaths:
Here's where daily cases have risen or fallen over the last 14 days, shown in confirmed cases per 100,000 residents:
And here's every country that has reported over 10 million cases:
The U.S. had recorded nearly 87 million coronavirus cases as of 3 a.m. E.T. today. More than 1 million people have died. On June 26, 18,551 new cases were reported and 493 new deaths confirmed in the U.S.
Here's how the country as a whole is currently trending in terms of cases:
And in terms of deaths:
Here's where daily cases have risen or fallen over the last 14 days, shown in confirmed cases per 100,000 residents:
All numbers unless otherwise specified are from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering, and are accurate as of June 27, 12 a.m. E.T. To see larger, interactive versions of these maps and charts, click here.
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WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW
Chinese censors cracked down on online discussions of the future of pandemic restrictions in the country on Monday, eliminating the hashtag “the next five years.” In a public comment, Beijing’s Communist Party secretary said the goal was “normalizing pandemic controls,” the Associated Press reports. In an effort to maintain its “zero COVID” policy, China has maintained strict rules—including mass testing, surveillance, and lockdowns—that critics say have curbed personal freedoms in the country.
A pandemic program that made free lunch available to all public school students in the U.S. is ending on June 30, raising concerns among families grappling with rising food prices, the AP reports. Only students who meet pre-pandemic requirements—based on metrics like family income levels—will continue to receive free lunch at school. During the 2021-2022 school year, about 30 million children a day received free school meals, up from about 20 million before the outbreak.
Thanks for reading. We hope you find the Coronavirus Brief newsletter to be a helpful tool to navigate this very complex situation, and welcome feedback at coronavirus.brief@time.com. If you have specific questions you'd like us to answer, please send them to covidquestions@time.com.
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Today's newsletter was written by Tara Law and edited by Elijah Wolfson.
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