Covid Boosters US Limit to 65+ and High-Risk Groups

MAY 22,2025

WASHINGTON — The United States is updating its Covid-19 vaccination strategy, limiting booster access to people aged 65 and older and those at high risk of serious illness, officials confirmed on Tuesday. This marks a significant shift in public health policy, moving away from universal recommendations and bringing the U.S. approach more in line with European guidelines.

In a newly published article in the New England Journal of Medicine, FDA Commissioner Martin Makary and official Vinayak Prasad outlined the Covid-19 booster policy update, calling it a more precise, risk-based method of protecting public health. Rather than recommending boosters for all adults, the FDA will now require stronger evidence before approving additional doses for younger, healthy individuals.

Who Is Eligible for Covid Boosters Now?

Under the new rules, Covid-19 booster shots in the U.S. will be limited to:

• People 65 years and older
• Individuals six months or older with underlying health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, or even mental health conditions like depression

The FDA will rely on laboratory results and risk-based evaluations to determine eligibility. Meanwhile, healthy people between the ages of 6 months and 64 years will only be considered for boosters if new clinical trials provide clear benefits.

“We simply don’t know whether a healthy 52-year-old woman who’s had Covid three times and received six previous doses still benefits from a seventh,” wrote Makary and Prasad.

A Move Toward Evidence-Based Covid Vaccine Guidelines

The policy shift comes amid influence from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known vaccine skeptic. Kennedy has previously petitioned the FDA to revoke vaccine authorizations, citing rare side effects like heart inflammation. He is now pushing to reshape how the country approaches public health, emphasizing data-backed decisions.

Despite the controversy, FDA leaders emphasized that the initial vaccine rollout was a major success, but said broad, one-size-fits-all booster campaigns may have caused public confusion and vaccine hesitancy. They believe this more tailored approach could rebuild trust.

“Blanket recommendations have backfired,” they wrote. “They fed skepticism about childhood vaccines, including for preventable diseases like measles.”

Covid Boosters What Vaccine Makers Must Do Next

Companies such as Pfizer and Moderna are now being asked to test updated Covid vaccines on adults aged 50 to 64. These studies should focus on whether the vaccines reduce symptomatic infections, hospitalizations, and deaths.

Rather than comparing new versions to earlier ones, the FDA suggests using placebo-controlled trials — a controversial recommendation. Some experts warn this could potentially expose participants to harm.

“Imagine if someone in the placebo group dies,” said Dr. Paul Offit, a leading vaccine expert. “That would raise serious ethical concerns.”

What About Annual Covid Shots?

While many have compared Covid boosters to annual flu shots, FDA officials pushed back on the idea. They argue that the genetic changes in Covid variants have not been drastic enough to justify updating the vaccine every year.

Public Access and Coverage Questions

One concern is whether insurance providers will continue covering boosters for individuals who are technically no longer eligible. If healthy adults under 65 want to receive the vaccine “off-label,” they may face coverage issues, Offit cautioned.

Still, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a broad definition of “at risk.” This includes obesity, diabetes, and even depression — meaning 100 to 200 million Americans may still qualify under the new guidelines. NOWTREND

About The Author