COVID-19 Vaccine for 2025 is a New Formulation
Yes, the COVID-19 vaccine for 2025 is a new formulation specifically designed to target currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 strains that differ from previous years' variants. 1
Details of the 2024-2025 COVID-19 Vaccine Update
The 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines represent a significant update from previous formulations:
- The FDA has approved and authorized new Omicron JN.1 lineage (JN.1 and KP.2) vaccines for the 2024-2025 season 1
- Specifically:
- Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines target the KP.2 strain
- Novavax vaccine targets the JN.1 strain 1
This is a necessary update because:
- The previous 2023-2024 vaccines were formulated to target XBB-sublineage strains
- These XBB strains are no longer predominant in the United States 1
- The new vaccines are designed to provide better protection against currently circulating variants 2
Effectiveness of the New Vaccine Formulation
Early data on the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines shows:
- Among adults aged ≥18 years, vaccine effectiveness (VE) against COVID-19-associated emergency department/urgent care visits is 33% (95% CI = 28%-38%) during the first 7-119 days after vaccination 2
- For immunocompetent adults aged ≥65 years, VE against COVID-19-associated hospitalization ranges from 45% (95% CI = 36%-53%) to 46% (95% CI = 26%-60%) during the first 7-119 days after vaccination 2
- For adults aged ≥65 years with immunocompromising conditions, VE is 40% (95% CI = 21%-54%) during the first 7-119 days after vaccination 2
Importance of the Updated Vaccine
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccination for all persons aged ≥6 months on June 27,2024 1. This recommendation is based on:
- COVID-19 continues to cause significant morbidity and mortality, particularly among older adults
- In 2023 alone, there were 44,059 COVID-19-associated deaths reported in persons aged ≥65 years 3
- The new vaccine formulation is specifically designed to target currently circulating strains, providing additional protection against severe COVID-19-associated illness and death 1
Safety Considerations
Safety monitoring of previous COVID-19 vaccine formulations identified:
- Two statistical signals for mRNA COVID-19 vaccines during the 2023-2024 season:
- Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) among persons aged ≥65 years, though evidence remains inconclusive
- Ischemic stroke among adults aged ≥50 years, though cumulative data has not provided clear evidence of a safety problem 1
These potential risks must be weighed against the substantial benefits of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing severe disease and death.
Key Differences from Previous Formulations
The evolution of COVID-19 vaccines shows a pattern of updates to match circulating variants:
- 2023-2024 vaccines contained a monovalent XBB.1.5 component 4
- 2024-2025 vaccines target the Omicron JN.1 lineage (JN.1 and KP.2) 1
- This regular updating process is similar to how influenza vaccines are reformulated annually to match circulating strains 5
The need for updated vaccines reflects the continued evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and the importance of maintaining protection against severe COVID-19 outcomes.