U.S. regulators approved updated COVID-19 vaccines but narrowed eligibility for younger adults and children to people with at least one high-risk health condition. Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax shots are approved for seniors, while Pfizer's vaccine lost emergency authorization for children under 5. Moderna's Spikevax retains approval for children as young as 6 months but only for those with a serious health problem. The revamped vaccines target a newer viral variant and are set to begin shipping immediately. Access will depend on decisions by federal advisers, insurers, pharmacies and state authorities, creating potential delays and barriers.
U.S. regulators approved updated COVID-19 shots Wednesday but limited their use for many Americans and removed one of the two vaccines available for young children. The new shots from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax are approved for all seniors. But the Food and Drug Administration narrowed their use for younger adults and children to those with at least one high-risk health condition, such as asthma or obesity.
That presents new barriers to access for millions of Americans who would have to prove their risk and millions more who may want to get vaccinated and suddenly no longer qualify. Additionally, Pfizer's vaccine will no longer be available for any child under 5, because the FDA said it was revoking the shot's emergency authorization for that age group. Parents will still be able to seek out shots from rival drugmaker Moderna, the other maker of mRNA vaccines, which has full FDA approval for children as young as 6 months. But the company's Spikevax vaccine is only approved for children with at least one serious health problem.
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