The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated versions of coronavirus vaccines on Thursday, enabling manufacturers to begin delivering doses to pharmacies and doctors' surgeries across the country. This key decision paves the way for mass distribution of the new vaccines ahead of the 2026–2027 immunisation season, a readiness previously signalled by all stakeholders.
The approvals cover vaccines from three major pharmaceutical companies: Moderna, Novavax-Sanofi and Pfizer-BioNTech. All manufacturers officially confirmed on Thursday that they had met regulatory requirements and were ready to place their products on the market. Recommendations from the FDA’s advisory panel are aimed at protecting against the dominant XFG strain of the virus, which currently causes the majority of infections.
Regulatory approvals vary depending on the manufacturer and the age of the recipient. The Moderna vaccine is approved for children over six months old, while the Pfizer-BioNTech product is intended for individuals over five years of age. The Novavax-Sanofi vaccine can be administered to people over 12 years old. For all three versions, the priority group comprises individuals over 65 years old, as well as younger people with chronic conditions that place them at higher risk of severe infection outcomes.
This decision comes against the backdrop of changing epidemiological circumstances and public health guidelines. According to data from CDC dashboards, the level of coronavirus activity monitored via testing is currently low, although wastewater monitoring shows a slight increase over the past few weeks. The CDC now recommends immunisation based on individual risk assessment, rather than universal recommendations.
The CDC’s advisory body is currently in a state of uncertainty following a March court ruling that blocked the appointment of new members by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Meanwhile, the administration of former President Trump abandoned the recommendation for vaccination for all citizens last autumn, leading to a more fragmented approach to public health compared to previous years.
