FDA clears new COVID-19 shots for seniors and high-risk groups for 2026-27 season

On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration authorized new COVID-19 vaccines for the upcoming 2026-27 season, focusing on populations at greater risk of severe disease. Approved products include Moderna’s vaccine for ages six months and up, Pfizer’s for ages five and up, and Sanofi’s for ages twelve and up, along with a reduced-dose Moderna version called mNEXSPIKE for those twelve and older. The eligibility criteria cover all adults 65 and older as well as younger people with underlying conditions such as asthma, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, pregnancy, cancer, immune deficiencies, certain mental illnesses, and various heart and lung diseases.

The approvals arrive amid a surge in infections across 47 states, although the CDC still reports overall low spread. While doctors can prescribe the vaccines off-label, most Americans receive them at pharmacies, and some pharmacists may be unable or unwilling to provide off-label doses. Additionally, a federal court recently invalidated the appointments of all new members to the CDC’s advisory panel appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., leaving the panel’s guidance in question.