The FDA also requested its panel of external experts to investigate administering two COVID vaccination doses each year to select young children, older adults, and people with weakened immunity. In briefing materials issued ahead of a meeting of its panel, the agency advocated the necessity for routine selection of variations for upgrading the vaccine, comparable to how strains for flu vaccinations are altered yearly.

The FDA believes that yearly vaccination schedules will result in less difficult vaccine deployment and fewer vaccine delivery mistakes, resulting in higher vaccine coverage rates. Most persons in the United States are currently required to receive two doses of the original COVID vaccination, spaced at least three to four weeks apart, depending on the vaccine, followed by a booster dose a few months later.

Pfizer's main vaccination dosage for children and adults include of three injections, with the third being a bivalent shot administered roughly two months later. If the panel approves the proposal, Pfizer and Moderna bivalent vaccines, which target both the Omicron and the original versions, will be used for all COVID vaccination doses, not just boosters.

Movement of Pfizer stocks in the last five years. (Source: Trading Economics)

Sources: https://tradingeconomics.com/pfe:us

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fda-covid-shots-yearly-for-most-americans/

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-fda-proposes-simplify-covid-vaccine-strategy-2023-01-23/

https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/us-fda-proposes-to-simplify-covid-vaccine-strategy-2985889