FDA Approves New COVID Vaccines, but There’s a Catch for Millions of Americans

Joseph ArangioThu, August 27, 2026 at 10:51 PM UTC

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The FDA approved COVID-19 vaccines Thursday, putting new shots on track to reach pharmacies and doctors’ offices as the U.S. heads toward fall. But this year’s rollout comes with a catch: Not everyone falls within the FDA-approved groups, and pharmacy access and insurance coverage could depend on what happens next.

The vaccines are approved for adults 65 and older, as well as younger people with at least one condition that increases their risk of severe COVID-19. Eligibility also varies by vaccine: Moderna’s Spikevax is approved for people as young as 6 months, Pfizer’s Comirnaty for ages 5 and older, and Nuvaxovid for ages 12 and older.

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Millions of Younger Americans May Still Qualify

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Being under 65 doesn’t necessarily put you outside the approved population. The CDC’s list of higher-risk conditions includes common factors such as asthma, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity and certain heart conditions, along with cancer, pregnancy and some mood disorders.

“Age is the strongest risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes,” the CDC says, while people with “one or multiple certain underlying medical conditions are also at higher risk.”

The bigger question may be where eligible Americans can actually get vaccinated. The New York Times reports that doctors can administer vaccines off label to people outside FDA criteria, but pharmacies may face different state rules. That matters because pharmacies remain a convenient vaccination option for many Americans.

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The New Shots Target the Variant Circulating Now

The timing is notable because the FDA selected XFG for the 2026-27 formula to “more closely match currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 viruses.”

When to get vaccinated is less clear-cut. The Times reports that Vanderbilt infectious-disease specialist Dr. William Schaffner favors October for COVID and flu vaccination, while UCSF’s Dr. Peter Chin-Hong recommends higher-risk people get the COVID shot once available.

COVID also hasn’t disappeared as a health threat. “We will still see very sick individuals go to the hospital. We will see people die,” Chin-Hong told the Times. “It’s hard to have an average message.”

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This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Aug 27, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Breaking”