Rumor Control
The growing spread of rumors, misinformation and disinformation about science, medicine, and the FDA, is putting patients and consumers at risk. We’re here to provide the facts.
Help stop rumors from spreading by doing three easy things:
- Don’t believe the rumors.
- Don’t pass them along.
- Get health information from trusted sources like the FDA and our government partners, such as usa.gov/health, coronavirus.gov and vaccines.gov.
COVID-19 FACTS
Yes, the FDA evaluated data from studies in people to support the emergency use authorization of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters.
The bivalent COVID-19 vaccines that the FDA has authorized for use as a single booster dose for individuals in certain age groups (or updated boosters) are expected to provide an immune response that is broadly protective against COVID-19 and better protects against COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant currently causing the most cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent each include the following: an mRNA component of the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus and an mRNA component in common between the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.
The COVID-19 vaccines authorized or approved by the FDA and given to millions of people in the U.S. since December 2020 contain a component of the original strain of SARS-CoV-2. These vaccines are monovalent vaccines.
The FDA’s evaluation of each bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster included consideration of the following data:
- Safety and immune response data obtained from studies conducted in people of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine that contained mRNA from omicron variant BA.1 lineage and was similar to each of the authorized bivalent COVID-19 vaccines.
- Extensive safety and effectiveness data for each of the monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, which have been given to millions of people, including during the omicron waves of COVID-19.
- Nonclinical data obtained using a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine that contained mRNA of the original strain and mRNA in common between the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant.
Based on the data supporting each of these authorizations, the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters are expected to provide increased protection against the currently circulating Omicron variant.
Bivalent and multivalent vaccines are very common – an example is the influenza vaccine. The FDA has approved numerous multivalent vaccines for the prevention of influenza disease. Influenza vaccines are updated annually and currently contain four different strains of influenza virus to protect against the influenza virus strains that are likely to cause the most illness during the flu season in the U.S.
No, the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine doesn’t contain pesticides.
Yes, pregnant and breastfeeding people can receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Yes, all COVID-19 vaccines are free from metals, eggs, latex and gelatin.
No, COVID-19 vaccines don’t cause monkeypox or COVID-19.
Video Gallery
What is a bivalent vaccine? |
What is in the authorized updated (bivalent) COVID-19 boosters? |
Why should I get one of the updated COVID-19 vaccine boosters? |
At this point isn't the pandemic over? Why should I bother to get vaccinated? |
Do the current COVID-19 vaccines work? |
If I had COVID-19, why do I still need to get vaccinated or need a booster? |
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