9/11 News Items (9/3/25)
Arnold Korotkin
Getting a COVID-19 vaccine shot this fall will take more than a quick trip to the pharmacy.
Why it matters: The federal government's new limits on who is eligible for COVID vaccines — and questions over insurance coverage — are causing confusion over the accessibility of shots once universally recommended.
Driving the news: Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F.Kennedy Jr. announced a series of moves last week that will limit who is eligible for COVID vaccines as the stratus variant spreads across the country.
- The FDA rescinded general emergency use authorizations for Pfizer and Moderna mRNA shots, according to Kennedy.
- Boosters for high-risk patients were approved, though.
- And patients who want COVID vaccines will first have to consult with their doctor rather than booking directly with a pharmacy.
Zoom in: Adults 65 and older are eligible for an updated Pfizer-BioNTech COVID vaccine, as well as new shots from Moderna and Novavax.
- Anyone between 5 and 64 is eligible if they have at least one underlying health condition.
- The new FDA policy doesn't approve the Pfizer vaccine for healthy kids under 5. Doctors may prescribe off-label shots. The Moderna vaccine has FDA approval for children 6 months old and up with underlying conditions.
Zoom out: Individuals who aren't part of the recommended groups may not be covered by insurance and forced to pay out of pocket — a strain for families on Medicaid, given shots cost around $140.
- Medicaid covers over 285,000 DC residents, including 95,000 infants and children, per city officials.
What they're saying: DC Health officials tell Axios they're unclear on next steps. Their shots, allocated through CDC programs for kids and uninsured adults, have yet to be recommended by a CDC panel.
- "There's been no communication about when that recommendation may occur from our federal partners," DC Health spokespeople tell Axios.