The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a plan to limit access to future COVID-19 shots to people over 65 years old or those with high-risk health conditions. This change applies to all future updated versions of the vaccine, according to the department of Health and Human Services.
Annual booster shots are no longer deemed necessary for healthy people, experts argue. The FDA Commissioner and vaccine head stated that lengthy clinical trials may result in a vaccine that no longer protects against circulating variants. Experts caution that by the time the trial is completed, the strain in circulation has likely changed, rendering the vaccine ineffective.
The new policy affects approximately 33% of the US population, or around 100 million people. Insurance coverage of future vaccines will be determined based on recommendations from the CDC and independent panel of advisers later this summer.
Critics argue that this restriction could create barriers for those who want to get vaccinated despite no longer being eligible due to their age or health status. The FDA emphasizes the need for evidence on vaccine efficacy before providing vaccination options for non-high-risk groups.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/fda-plans-limit-covid-shots-65-high-risk/story?id=122030887