FDA Wants COVID-19 Boosters Targeting Omicron BA.4, BA.5 Subvariants

Signage is seen outside of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) headquarters in White Oak, Md., on Aug. 29, 2020. Andrew Kelly/Reuters

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday recommended COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers change the design of their booster shots beginning this fall to include components tailored to combat the currently dominant Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of the coronavirus.

If authorized, the changes would mark the first major retooling of COVID-19 vaccines, but also could slow their rollout as the FDA has recommended a design somewhat different from what the companies had already tested and started producing.