CDC updates vaccine dose timing recommendation; Sanofi and GSK to seek FDA authorization for COVID-19 vaccine

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week said some people may wish to receive their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine up to eight weeks after the first, especially males aged 12 to 39. The agency continues to recommend a three-week interval between the first and second Pfizer vaccine doses and a four-week interval between the first and second Moderna vaccine doses for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised, aged 65 or older, or need rapid protection due to concern about increased community transmission or risk of severe disease.

In other vaccine news, Sanofi and GSK plan to ask the Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency to authorize their COVID-19 vaccine candidate based on data showing two doses of the vaccine were 57.9% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 and 100% protective against severe disease and hospitalizations.