The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) has recommended that the 2023-2024 COVID-19 vaccine in the United States be a monovalent vaccine that targets the XBB lineage of the Omicron variant. This new composition would be a monovalent product, incorporating an XBB-lineage of the Omicron variant.

The VRBPAC voted unanimously in favor of the recommendation, citing the following reasons:

  • The original COVID-19 variant is no longer circulating, so there is no need to include it in the vaccine composition.
  • The XBB-lineage of the Omicron variant is currently the most dominant strain circulating in the United States.
  • Some studies have found that monovalent vaccines may be more effective than bivalent vaccines.

The CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is expected to review and make a recommendation regarding these products once they become available in late summer or early fall.

The committee also considered the manufacturing timelines for the different vaccine compositions. The committee felt that a monovalent XBB-lineage vaccine could be manufactured more quickly than a bivalent vaccine, which would allow for more people to be vaccinated in time for the fall season.

Returning to a Monovalent Vaccine

The decision to return to a monovalent vaccine is a significant one, as it marks a departure from the bivalent vaccines that have been used since the start of the pandemic. However, there are several reasons why this change may be beneficial.

First, the original COVID-19 variant is no longer circulating. This means that there is no need to include it in the vaccine composition, as it is not a threat to public health. Second, the XBB-lineage of the Omicron variant is currently the most dominant strain circulating in the United States. This means that a monovalent vaccine that targets this strain would be more effective at preventing infection and illness.

COVID-19 Vaccine Next Steps

The FDA’s recommendation is an important step forward in the fight against COVID-19. However, it is important to note that the ACIP has not yet made a recommendation regarding these products. Once the ACIP makes a recommendation, the updated COVID-19 vaccines will be available in late summer or early fall of 2023. When preparing for this next round of vaccines it is imperative that practices have proper cold storage equipment.

Trumed’s Accuvax Vaccine Management System provides the ultimate solution for managing the complexities of Covid-19 vaccines. Temperature monitoring and adjustments, real-time inventory, stock rotation, and detailed information for vaccine audits are all handled by Accuvax, saving your staff hours each month and cutting down on errors and wasted supplies.

In addition, AccuVax has a patented door-less design, allowing vaccines to be loaded and dispensed with minimal opening, ensuring temperatures stay constant, even during heavy use. In the event of a power outage, the built-in battery power back-up maintains temperatures consistent for 8 hours or more, while the alerting suite instantly informs you of the power and temperature situation.

Schedule a demo today to learn how TruMed Systems can help you protect your COVID-19 vaccines for a more effective immunization program at your practice.

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