The head of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) vaccine division suggested that it may be time to move on from using mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.
The two most commonly used vaccines—made by Pfizer and Moderna—use mRNA technology. Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine uses an adenovirus and Novavax’s shot, the most recently approved vaccine for COVID-19 in the United States, is protein-based and most similar to the common childhood vaccines.
Speaking to Stat News, FDA vaccines head Peter Marks said that a long-term solution to COVID-19 vaccinations may not entail using mRNA technology.
“We need to look at other types of vaccines. And there are those out there that might provide more durable immunity,” he told the outlet. “I would love to see us have a very ecumenical look over all of the available vaccines and all of the vaccines in development to try to see what’s best moving forward,” he added….