The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of new COVID-19 vaccines for both adults and children for the 2024-2025 season.
Among these FDA approvals:
- COMIRNATY® vaccine for adults, developed by BioNTech and Pfizer
- A vaccine for children aged 6 months to 11 years, developed by Pfizer and BioNTech
- An updated SPIKEVAX™ vaccine for adults, developed by Moderna
- A new formula specifically designed for children aged 6 months to 11 months by Moderna
Emergency room visits for COVID-19 among working-age individuals (ages 18 to 64) hovers around 2%. The overall U.S. death rate remains 5% to 10% higher than pre-pandemic levels, influenced by both the direct impact of COVID-19 and its effects on routine healthcare and the broader healthcare system.
EMPLOYER CONSIDERATIONS
Employers offering fully funded health plans and self-insured employer-sponsored health plans are required by the Affordable Care Act to cover these vaccinations without any cost-sharing for patients.