Pfizer, BioNTech win approval for updated COVID-19 shot

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved updated Covid-19 vaccines on Thursday, allowing manufacturers to begin shipping doses to pharmacies and doctors' offices nationwide. The vaccines, produced by Moderna, Novavax-Sanofi, and Pfizer-BioNTech, target the dominant XFG variant, which has become the most prevalent strain.

All manufacturers confirmed they could produce the updated vaccine in time for the 2026-27 immunization season. The vaccines are recommended for individuals aged 65 and older, as well as younger individuals with underlying conditions that increase their risk of severe Covid-19 outcomes. The age requirements for the younger population vary by manufacturer: Moderna's vaccine is approved for those over six months old, Pfizer-BioNTech for those five and older, and Novavax-Sanofi for those aged 12 and up.

Last fall, the Trump administration shifted away from recommending Covid vaccines to all eligible individuals, leading to confusion about who was eligible for the shots. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends immunizations based on individual decision-making, but the panel that provides guidance is currently in a state of uncertainty.

The absence of a functioning CDC vaccine panel raises questions about whether insurers will cover the updated shots, as they are typically required to do so for panel-recommended vaccines. While Covid-19 activity levels, tracked through testing and wastewater monitoring, are currently low, they are on the rise in recent weeks.