The California Biotechnology Foundation is committed to keeping you up to date about COVID-19 testing, treatment and prevention advancements. The following resources track what progress has been made as of June 17, 2022. Notable advancements include:

• Moderna is planning to test its COVID-19 vaccine on children aged three to six months.
• The Food and Drug Administration’s panel of vaccine advisors recommended vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer for children aged under 5.

Recent News

• Moderna Plans Trial Testing COVID-19 Vaccine in Youngest Babies
  Biospace – June 16, 2022
  Only a day after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted unanimously to recommend emergency use authorization (EUA) for Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages six to 17 and kids six months through five years, the company is planning to test the vaccine in babies three to six months of age.
• FDA advisers endorse 1st COVID-19 shots for kids under 5
  Associated Press – June 15, 2022
  The first COVID-19 shots for U.S. infants, toddlers and preschoolers moved a step closer. The Food and Drug Administration’s vaccine advisers gave a thumbs-up to vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer for the littlest kids. The outside experts voted unanimously that the benefits of the shots outweigh any risks for children under 5 — that’s roughly 18 million youngsters. They are the last age group in the U.S. without access to COVID-19 vaccines and many parents have been anxious to protect their little children.
• Paxlovid: Who’s Eligible and How to Get Pfizer’s COVID-19 Antiviral Drug
  Healthline – June 14, 2022
  The antiviral medication Paxlovid has proven to be effective in preventing serious illnesses from COVID-19. However, there is a large supply of the medication sitting on pharmacy shelves as consumers remain unaware of its availability. Right now, only people with certain medical conditions can be prescribed the drug. Experts say people who test positive for COVID-19 and are eligible for Paxlovid should ask their doctor to prescribe it.
• What to know about the new Novavax vaccine for COVID-19
  The Hill – June 14, 2022
  Last week, the Federal Drug Administration’s (FDA) advisory committee recommended that Nuvaxovid receive emergency use authorization for people ages 18 and over. Outside of the U.S., the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine, named Nuvaxovid, has received emergency use authorization in more than 40 countries and is listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization. The committee voted 21 in favor and one abstention.  In the U.S., emergency use authorization could be on the way and provide a fourth vaccine option in addition to the two mRNA vaccines and the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. Nuvaxovid differ from the mRNA vaccines via Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna.
• Opinion: Here’s how San Diego biotech helped fight the COVID-19 pandemic
  San Diego Union-Tribune – June 7, 2022
  The COVID-19 pandemic made a simple fact painfully clear: Our world is smaller and more connected than ever before, meaning that dangerous viruses and other communicable diseases can travel faster and farther than at any other time in human history. The question isn’t whether a new virus or strain will threaten us. The question is when. How will society confront such an epic challenge?