Amsterdam/Munich. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) CHMP technical committee has made an approval recommendation for the variant-adapted JN.1 COVID vaccine (Spikevax®) from the US manufacturer Moderna. As reported by the company, the mRNA vaccine will be available in a 50 µg pre-filled syringe for people aged 12 and over in Germany (PZN: 19392072).
The approval is carried out by the European Commission, but is considered a formality. Since, as a result of the European Commission’s central vaccine procurement, there are still purchase obligations for the COVID vaccine from the Mainz-based company BioNTech and the federal government is financially responsible for this, Moderna remains at a competitive disadvantage in the statutory health insurance system.
According to the manufacturer, Spikevax can® Also in the version adapted to JN.1, either only on a private prescription for privately insured people “or on request for cost coverage before vaccination for patients with GKV”. The new vaccine will probably be able to be ordered from October 1st via the pharmacy’s ordering system and the doctor’s software, it continues. (cw)