Targeted Fall Boosters, But Access Tightened: U.S. health authorities approved new monovalent COVID-19 vaccines updated for the 2025–26 season reuters.com. Unlike prior booster rollouts, the FDA restricted under-65 eligibility to those with risk factors, aligning with guidance from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic reuters.com. The change marks a sharp departure from broad eligibility in previous years. Officials and experts voiced concern that narrowing access could sow confusion over insurance coverage and leave many younger adults unprotected reuters.com reuters.com. Notably, the FDA also rescinded emergency authorization for Pfizer’s vaccine in children under 5, effectively pausing toddler immunizations reuters.com. Medical societies pushed back – the Infectious Diseases Society of America announced it is working with other groups on independent COVID vaccine guidelines, expected in September reuters.com. The American Academy of Pediatrics even went against federal policy, recommending that all young children get vaccinated for COVID-19 reuters.com.
