By Stephanie Brown HealthDay ReporterTUESDAY, June 3, 2025 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new lower-dose vaccine for active immunization against COVID-19 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.

The FDA's approval was based on a study of 11,400 people age 12 and older that compared the new low-dose vaccine with Moderna's existing vaccine. It found the new vaccine was safe and was at least as effective - and more by some measures - than the original shot, the company said.

Key Takeaways Moderna said the FDA approved its new COVID-19 vaccine "for use in all adults 65 and older, as well as individuals aged 12-64 years with at least one or more underlying risk factor."Shares of the pharmaceutical giant rose Monday morning but are still down by nearly 35% this year.