WHO Outlines Data Needs for Updated COVID-19 Vaccine Formulas
Geneva – Teh World Health Organization (WHO) is actively soliciting critical data to inform recommendations for the composition of COVID-19 vaccines intended for use in May 2025, signaling an ongoing effort to adapt immunization strategies to evolving viral variants. The request, detailed in a release on March 25, 2025, aims to ensure future vaccines provide optimal protection against currently circulating and anticipated strains of the virus.
This ongoing process of antigen composition review is vital for maintaining vaccine effectiveness as SARS-cov-2 continues to mutate. The WHO has been regularly issuing statements on vaccine composition as June 17, 2022, and continues to refine its guidance based on the latest scientific evidence. These deliberations directly impact global public health strategies,influencing vaccine advancement,manufacturing,and deployment,and ultimately affecting the level of protection available to populations worldwide. The May 2025 recommendations will guide vaccine manufacturers in updating their formulations for the upcoming vaccination campaigns.
The WHO specifically requested data encompassing genomic surveillance, phenotypic characteristics of emerging variants, and real-world effectiveness data of existing vaccines against these variants. Facts on the immunogenicity of updated vaccine candidates, including antibody responses and T-cell immunity, is also being sought.Furthermore, the WHO is requesting data on the manufacturing feasibility and scalability of potential vaccine updates.
Previous statements on antigen composition were released on May 18, 2023; December 13, 2023; April 26, 2024; December 23, 2024; and most recently, May 15, 2025. These prior assessments have informed adjustments to vaccine formulations to address emerging variants and maintain protection levels. The WHO’s continuous monitoring and adaptation of vaccine recommendations underscore the dynamic nature of the pandemic response and the commitment to evidence-based decision-making.
