Shumita Basu

The FDA said it would no longer approve new vaccines for healthy people under 65 years old unless pharmaceutical companies run additional trials to test their safety and benefits. Right now, anyone can get a booster.

The FDA said it would no longer approve new vaccines for healthy people under 65 years old unless pharmaceutical companies run additional trials to test their safety and benefits. Right now, anyone can get a booster.

The FDA said it would no longer approve new vaccines for healthy people under 65 years old unless pharmaceutical companies run additional trials to test their safety and benefits. Right now, anyone can get a booster.

Under the new restrictions, boosters would be available to those who have a medical condition that elevates the risk of severe disease, such as obesity, pregnancy, or a history of smoking. The head of the FDA's vaccine program, Dr. Vinayak Prasad, stressed that higher-risk people would see no changes to accessing COVID shots.

Under the new restrictions, boosters would be available to those who have a medical condition that elevates the risk of severe disease, such as obesity, pregnancy, or a history of smoking. The head of the FDA's vaccine program, Dr. Vinayak Prasad, stressed that higher-risk people would see no changes to accessing COVID shots.

Under the new restrictions, boosters would be available to those who have a medical condition that elevates the risk of severe disease, such as obesity, pregnancy, or a history of smoking. The head of the FDA's vaccine program, Dr. Vinayak Prasad, stressed that higher-risk people would see no changes to accessing COVID shots.

Last year, just 23 percent of adults had a booster shot, with many of those in the over-65s bracket, which the FDA says will remain eligible. This is a major shift in policy, but it's hard to know if it'll make a dramatic effect to infection rates overall. It's also not entirely unusual by global standards.

Last year, just 23 percent of adults had a booster shot, with many of those in the over-65s bracket, which the FDA says will remain eligible. This is a major shift in policy, but it's hard to know if it'll make a dramatic effect to infection rates overall. It's also not entirely unusual by global standards.

Last year, just 23 percent of adults had a booster shot, with many of those in the over-65s bracket, which the FDA says will remain eligible. This is a major shift in policy, but it's hard to know if it'll make a dramatic effect to infection rates overall. It's also not entirely unusual by global standards.

Some countries in Europe restrict free boosters, or at least limit their official recommendations to those vulnerable to severe illness. But even there, it's usually possible for healthy, younger people to choose to get a shot and pay out of pocket if they want to. Usha Lee McFarlane, a national reporter with STAT, told us that's been the gist of the criticism of this move.

Some countries in Europe restrict free boosters, or at least limit their official recommendations to those vulnerable to severe illness. But even there, it's usually possible for healthy, younger people to choose to get a shot and pay out of pocket if they want to. Usha Lee McFarlane, a national reporter with STAT, told us that's been the gist of the criticism of this move.

Some countries in Europe restrict free boosters, or at least limit their official recommendations to those vulnerable to severe illness. But even there, it's usually possible for healthy, younger people to choose to get a shot and pay out of pocket if they want to. Usha Lee McFarlane, a national reporter with STAT, told us that's been the gist of the criticism of this move.

She notes that the announcement has left some physicians confused as to who might be eligible this fall and what it means for people hoping to continue getting boosters and wondering when clinical trials will make that approval possible.

She notes that the announcement has left some physicians confused as to who might be eligible this fall and what it means for people hoping to continue getting boosters and wondering when clinical trials will make that approval possible.

She notes that the announcement has left some physicians confused as to who might be eligible this fall and what it means for people hoping to continue getting boosters and wondering when clinical trials will make that approval possible.

ABC News reports that it's traditionally the CDC that sets these kinds of recommendations, while the FDA determines which vaccines to approve, making this a departure from precedent. It's another indication of the ways our public health apparatus is changing under the current administration.

ABC News reports that it's traditionally the CDC that sets these kinds of recommendations, while the FDA determines which vaccines to approve, making this a departure from precedent. It's another indication of the ways our public health apparatus is changing under the current administration.

ABC News reports that it's traditionally the CDC that sets these kinds of recommendations, while the FDA determines which vaccines to approve, making this a departure from precedent. It's another indication of the ways our public health apparatus is changing under the current administration.

Meanwhile, NPR reports that many of the ways the CDC previously distributed health and outbreak alerts, like newsletters, have gone silent. The agency's main social media channels are now run by the Department of Health and Human Services. Cases of measles, salmonella, listeria, and hepatitis A and C have continued to rise.

Meanwhile, NPR reports that many of the ways the CDC previously distributed health and outbreak alerts, like newsletters, have gone silent. The agency's main social media channels are now run by the Department of Health and Human Services. Cases of measles, salmonella, listeria, and hepatitis A and C have continued to rise.