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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
The FDA has approved four updated COVID-19 vaccines targeting the XFG variant for the 2026–2027 season. Vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty), Moderna (Spikevax and mNEXSPIKE), and Novavax (Nuvaxovid) are all now cleared for use in high-risk groups and adults 65+. Shots are expected to hit pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics within days.
The FDA has approved four updated COVID-19 vaccines for the 2026–2027 vaccination season, all formulated to target the XFG variant — a descendant of the JN.1 lineage that dominated last season. The approved shots include Pfizer/BioNTech's Comirnaty, Moderna's Spikevax and mNEXSPIKE, and Novavax/Sanofi's protein-based Nuvaxovid. Manufacturers say the updated vaccines will be available at pharmacies, hospitals, and clinics within days.
The approvals follow an 8-0 vote (with one abstention) by the FDA's Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee in May 2026, which backed the monovalent XFG formulation. The European Medicines Agency issued a similar recommendation around the same time.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: With the CDC's advisory panel sidelined, these FDA approvals and independent medical society guidance are filling a critical gap — giving clinicians and patients a clear path forward for fall COVID protection.
