Shumita Basu

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.

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.

All this comes as the World Health Organization celebrated a new pandemic treaty, the first global agreement for how to respond to future pandemics. It included a series of measures aimed at improving collaboration, preparedness and research. The U.S. did not participate as President Trump has begun the process of withdrawing from the WHO.

All this comes as the World Health Organization celebrated a new pandemic treaty, the first global agreement for how to respond to future pandemics. It included a series of measures aimed at improving collaboration, preparedness and research. The U.S. did not participate as President Trump has begun the process of withdrawing from the WHO.

All this comes as the World Health Organization celebrated a new pandemic treaty, the first global agreement for how to respond to future pandemics. It included a series of measures aimed at improving collaboration, preparedness and research. The U.S. did not participate as President Trump has begun the process of withdrawing from the WHO.

And Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has urged nations to reject, as he put it, the moribund WHO. The U.S. was once the WHO's biggest donor, the title that China now holds. President Biden's health is back in focus this week after we learned just a few days ago that he's been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

And Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has urged nations to reject, as he put it, the moribund WHO. The U.S. was once the WHO's biggest donor, the title that China now holds. President Biden's health is back in focus this week after we learned just a few days ago that he's been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

And Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has urged nations to reject, as he put it, the moribund WHO. The U.S. was once the WHO's biggest donor, the title that China now holds. President Biden's health is back in focus this week after we learned just a few days ago that he's been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.