Vaccination policies regarding COVID-19 undergo modifications, sparking doubts and apprehension among American adults during the onset of the summer surge
The United States is gearing up for a change in its COVID-19 vaccination strategy, with a focus on high-risk individuals such as older adults and medically vulnerable children and adults. This transition reflects a shift from broad population vaccination towards a more targeted, risk-based strategy.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the updated COVID-19 vaccines, expected to be released closer to autumn, will be primarily recommended for high-risk groups. This includes adults aged 65 and older, and children aged 6 months through 11 years who have underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for severe COVID-19 disease.
Moderna's Spikevax vaccine has received full FDA approval for use in these high-risk groups. The company expects the updated vaccine formulation, designed for the 2025-2026 respiratory virus season, to be available for these eligible populations.
However, vaccination for healthy children, pregnant people, and low-risk adults may see reduced emphasis and availability under this new framework. Clinical trial requirements for vaccine approval under the new FDA framework may further constrain vaccine rollout in low-risk groups.
This change in strategy aims to protect high-risk individuals from severe illness and death, with less emphasis on vaccinating healthy young adults or pregnant women. This appears to be coupled with a focus on minimizing rare vaccine side effects like myocarditis, which occurs mostly in teens and young males but is generally mild and less frequent than myocarditis caused by COVID infection itself.
The surge in COVID-19 cases this summer has raised concerns among epidemiologists. Dr. Caitlin Rivers anticipates continued increases until early September, but is uncertain. Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo's main concern is the uncertainty about when updated Covid vaccines will be available and who will be able to get them.
Meanwhile, public trust in vaccine information sources has been eroding. Trust in local health departments and the CDC has decreased, but personal doctors or health care providers remain the most trusted source for vaccine information, with 8 in 10 adults expressing trust.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has replaced a federal vaccine advisory panel, has stated that the Covid-19 shot will no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. However, only 37% of adults trust Kennedy at least "a fair amount" to provide information on vaccines.
A new survey by KFF shows that most adults in the US don't plan to get a Covid-19 vaccine this fall. Half of parents are unsure if federal health agencies are currently recommending a Covid-19 vaccine for healthy children this fall. Most who do plan to get the shot share concerns that the vaccine won't be available to them and that their insurance won't cover the cost.
Covid-19 concentrations have ticked up from June to July, but are far below last year's levels according to WastewaterSCAN surveillance data. Despite these improvements, it is crucial for individuals to stay vigilant and follow public health guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus.
[1] CDC Website - COVID-19 Vaccines [2] Moderna Website - Spikevax Vaccine [3] FDA Website - Emergency Use Authorization [4] CDC Website - Vaccines for Children Program [5] KFF Website - Vaccine Approval Process
- The new COVID-19 vaccination strategy in the United States is shifting towards a more targeted approach, prioritizing high-risk individuals such as older adults and medically vulnerable children and adults, as seen on the CDC Website - COVID-19 Vaccines.
- The updated COVID-19 vaccines, anticipated towards autumn, will primarily be recommended for high-risk groups, including adults aged 65 and older and children aged 6 months through 11 years with underlying medical conditions, as indicated on the Moderna Website - Spikevax Vaccine.
- Science and policy-and-legislation intersect as public health authorities gravitate towards a strategy that places less emphasis on vaccinating healthy children, pregnant people, and low-risk adults, in light of general-news reports about the new FDA framework and election of figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to vaccine advisory panels.
