JUN LI The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has selected the Omicron JN.

1 variant to target during the next COVID immunization drive, Reuters reported Friday, citing an advisory issued to vaccine makers. Accordingly, JN.1-adjusted monovalent COVID vaccines will be available in the U.

S. during the 2024–2025 respiratory season. The FDA's advisory aligns with recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and a European panel of vaccine experts.

The final guidance on vaccine composition comes after an FDA advisory committee unanimously agreed on Wednesday that the next round of COVID-19 shots should be directed at JN.1. In line with the guidance, Moderna ( NASDAQ: MRNA ) announced on Friday that it submitted an application to the FDA seeking approval for its JN.

1-adjusted vaccine. The Massachusetts-based biotech previously said its vaccine supplies formulated to reflect new variants would begin as early as mid-August. Rivals Pfizer ( NYSE: PFE ), BioNTech ( NASDAQ: BNTX ), and Novavax ( NASDAQ: NVAX ) also announced plans to launch their products in time for a fall vaccination campaign.

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