We approve the latest Covid shots with new boundaries about who gets it

(Bloomberg) – US regulators have approved updated versions of the Covid vaccine, although a much smaller group of people will be eligible to receive it this fall this fall. The food and drug administration on Wednesday cleaned Covid shots that target the tension associated with the prevailing JN.1 variant for people aged 65 and older or underlying conditions. Last year, everyone was eligible for a Covid booster. The FDA approval for a seasonal shot is usually a formality that attracts little attention, but vaccination has become an important flash point in the past year. They have investigated even more since Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine critic, was appointed earlier this year to lead the US Department of Health and Human Services. Under his leadership, agencies that are part of HHS have taken a more difficult stance on vaccines. In one of his more dramatic shifts, in May, the FDA said it would only give the green light to shots for older people and those with underlying conditions. The decision meant that those who do not qualify for the shots can only get it if their doctor prescribes the vaccine outside the label, and insurance may not cover it. Each year, FDA advisors meet to formally decide which tribes they should keep in line, usually in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization. Once selected, manufacturers, such as Moderna Inc. and Pfizer Inc., large quantities of the shot. The FDA will later approve of the new formula, which enables companies to send doses to pharmacies, hospitals and clinics. Pfizer also received approval for his Covid shot in children as young as 5 who have at least one underlying condition that is at high risk of serious illnesses, Kennedy said on Wednesday. In addition, the vaccine of Novavax Inc. approved for people 12 and older with an increased risk. Moderna’s lap was approved in July. Restricting the number of people who get the shots could mean more people get covid in the coming months, or have worse outcomes. However, the shots were already unpopular. Only 23% of American adults and 13% of children made a Covid booster last fall, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More stories like these are available on Bloomberg.com © 2025 Bloomberg LP