No COVID boosters this Fall?

[pete6032]

Basically you will only be able to get a booster if you are 65 or older or have a health risk. The head of the FDA went against the approval and recommendation of the FDA's vaccine staff.

As a parent and person who hates getting sick this is incredibly frustrating. I'm surprised more is not being said about this.

Gift Link:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/...e_code=1.U08.tY6J.de-UVv7tKIYV&smid=url-share

The Food and Drug Administration’s top vaccine official rejected broad uses of two Covid vaccines, citing unknown risks or injuries despite assurances of safety from dozens of staff experts, newly released documents show.

The decisions by the official, Dr. Vinay Prasad, the agency’s new chief medical and scientific officer, stunned agency veterans. Records show that the F.D.A.’s vaccine staff members had signed off on approving the Novavax vaccine, an alternative to mRNA shots and weeks later on the next-generation of the mRNA Covid shot by Moderna for anyone 12 and older.

Dr. Prasad overruled those recommendations by the end of May and instead advised restricting the use of both Covid vaccines. He wrote in two memos that the threat from the virus had fallen and changed the risk-benefit balance of vaccinating healthy, younger people.

The changes for the two vaccines aligned with the agency’s broader plan that limited the use of all Covid vaccines to people 65 and older. For those younger than 65, the F.D.A. rolled back eligibility for Covid vaccines to those with a medical condition that would put them at high risk.

 

[ivwshane]

No worries. When the death rate increases and the number of people calling out this flue season starts to negatively impact businesses and the economy, it’s another thing trump can hang his hat on with yet another own goal.

 

[K1052]

If I can self attest to something that qualifies me then no problemo. If not I will get it when out of the country.

 

[pete6032]

If I can self attest to something that qualifies me then no problemo. If not I will get it when out of the country.

I was thinking about that too. Not sure if I can make a quick trip to Canada and get the vaccine. Seems ridiculous that I can't get a COVID booster in the U.S.

 

[Indus]

No worries. When the death rate increases and the number of people calling out this flue season starts to negatively impact businesses and the economy, it’s another thing trump can hang his hat on with yet another own goal.

But that's what they want.. more people who don't qualify for social security/ medicare because they're not alive!

 

[K1052]

I was thinking about that too. Not sure if I can make a quick trip to Canada and get the vaccine. Seems ridiculous that I can't get a COVID booster in the U.S.

Going to Mexico in November so I'll just get jabbed the day I come back.

 

[Indus]

Going to Mexico in November so I'll just get jabbed the day I come back.

Isn't Novavax from Russia?

I'd still feel more comfy with Pfizer personally.

 

[K1052]

Isn't Novavax from Russia?

I'd still feel more comfy with Pfizer personally.

No, produced by the Serum Institute of India for Novavax. Novavax is a US based company.

 

[nakedfrog]

File under "malicious stupidity".

 

[Brainonska511]

This is what happens when you put an anti-vaccine crank in charge of HHS who appoints his crank buddies. And it was egged on by bullshit media headlines for years that launder anti-vaccine propaganda as "skepticism". A lot of journalists are failing the "don't print lies" test, and fail to understand that you don't have to give equal weight to the crank and the entire body of science.

 

[WilliamM2]

Basically you will only be able to get a booster if you are 65 or older or have a health risk. The head of the FDA went against the approval and recommendation of the FDA's vaccine staff.

As a parent and person who hates getting sick this is incredibly frustrating. I'm surprised more is not being said about this.

I expected JFK to ban the covid vaccine entirely, so I'm not surprised. Look what he going to do to the vaccine schedule of kids.

 

[nickqt]

Republicans love dead Americans.

 

[Brovane]

Basically you will only be able to get a booster if you are 65 or older or have a health risk. The head of the FDA went against the approval and recommendation of the FDA's vaccine staff.

As a parent and person who hates getting sick this is incredibly frustrating. I'm surprised more is not being said about this.

Gift Link:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/...e_code=1.U08.tY6J.de-UVv7tKIYV&smid=url-share

Isn't this policy basically aligned with the NHS recommendations in the UK for the COVID booster?

https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/

Who should have the COVID-19 vaccine​

You may be offered a COVID-19 vaccine in early winter if you:

• are aged 75 or over
• are aged 6 months to 74 years and have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment
• live in a care home for older adults

 

[thilanliyan]

I was thinking about that too. Not sure if I can make a quick trip to Canada and get the vaccine. Seems ridiculous that I can't get a COVID booster in the U.S.

That's freedum for ya!

 

[brycejones]

Isn't this policy basically aligned with the NHS recommendations in the UK for the COVID booster?

https://www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/covid-19-vaccine/

Who should have the COVID-19 vaccine​

You may be offered a COVID-19 vaccine in early winter if you:

• are aged 75 or over
• are aged 6 months to 74 years and have a weakened immune system because of a health condition or treatment
• live in a care home for older adults

To be blunt those NHS guidelines are kind of shite to. We know there is a risk of long covid regardless of other risk factors from even "mild" infections.

 

[Brovane]

To be blunt those NHS guidelines are kind of shite to. We know there is a risk of long covid regardless of other risk factors from even "mild" infections.

Looking over Europe it seems like a lot of countries in Europe have similar recommendations. Having the US following similar recommendations as in Europe doesn't seems to far of a outlier.
Does the booster prevent someone from getting even a mild or asymptotic infection of COVID?


This is for Netherlands. https://www.rivm.nl/en/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccination

From 15 September to 5 December 2025, there will be a new vaccination round against COVID-19. The following people can get a COVID-19 vaccination at that time:

• People aged 60 and over;
• People aged 50–59 years who are invited to get the seasonal flu vaccine every year;
• Children and adults in the medical high-risk groups;
• Care workers who have direct contact with vulnerable patients.

In some cases, other people can also get the COVID-19 vaccination. One example is people who have a vulnerable family member. It is also possible for someone to get the vaccination outside the autumn round, if the treating physician considers it necessary.

An important change compared to 2024 is that people aged 18–49 years who are offered a flu vaccine every year will no longer be offered a COVID-19 vaccination in 2025. People aged 50 years and older who are invited to get the seasonal flu vaccine every year are still eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination.

This is because the younger age group (flu vaccine group aged 18–49 years) has a lower risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19 compared to the older age group (flu vaccine group aged 50 years and older), and because the burden of disease has decreased over the past few years. A COVID-19 vaccination does not have enough added value for this younger group at this time.

Some people, for example those who have moderately or severely impaired immunity, may be referred for one or more (additional) COVID-19 vaccinations, if advised by the treating physician. People with a referral from the treating physician can contact the Municipal Public Health Services (GGDs) for an appointment all year round.

 

[Pens1566]

Big difference in "Everyone 75 and over" and "Everyone 60 and over". Especially with how generally unhealthy our population is ... Setting it at 60 here in the US seems entirely appropriate.

 

[brycejones]

Looking over Europe it seems like a lot of countries in Europe have similar recommendations. Having the US following similar recommendations as in Europe doesn't seems to far of a outlier.
Does the booster prevent someone from getting even a mild or asymptotic infection of COVID?


This is for Netherlands. https://www.rivm.nl/en/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccination

From 15 September to 5 December 2025, there will be a new vaccination round against COVID-19. The following people can get a COVID-19 vaccination at that time:

• People aged 60 and over;
• People aged 50–59 years who are invited to get the seasonal flu vaccine every year;
• Children and adults in the medical high-risk groups;
• Care workers who have direct contact with vulnerable patients.

In some cases, other people can also get the COVID-19 vaccination. One example is people who have a vulnerable family member. It is also possible for someone to get the vaccination outside the autumn round, if the treating physician considers it necessary.

An important change compared to 2024 is that people aged 18–49 years who are offered a flu vaccine every year will no longer be offered a COVID-19 vaccination in 2025. People aged 50 years and older who are invited to get the seasonal flu vaccine every year are still eligible for a COVID-19 vaccination.

This is because the younger age group (flu vaccine group aged 18–49 years) has a lower risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19 compared to the older age group (flu vaccine group aged 50 years and older), and because the burden of disease has decreased over the past few years. A COVID-19 vaccination does not have enough added value for this younger group at this time.

Some people, for example those who have moderately or severely impaired immunity, may be referred for one or more (additional) COVID-19 vaccinations, if advised by the treating physician. People with a referral from the treating physician can contact the Municipal Public Health Services (GGDs) for an appointment all year round.

Cool, noticeably lacking info about long COVID. I stand by my take.

 

[Brovane]

Cool, noticeably lacking info about long COVID. I stand by my take.

Does the booster prevent someone from getting even a mild or asymptotic infection of COVID?

 

[Brainonska511]

Does the booster prevent someone from getting even a mild or asymptotic infection of COVID?

Why is that a necessary feature for the vaccine for recommending it or not for broader populations?

Protecting against severe infection, hospitalization, and death are still useful, and medical societies are broadly in favor of keeping an expanded group as eligible for boosters instead of taking the crank position of the RFK Jrs to restrict their use to very narrow groups.

 

[Brovane]

Why is that a necessary feature for the vaccine for recommending it or not for broader populations?

Protecting against severe infection, hospitalization, and death are still useful, and medical societies are broadly in favor of keeping an expanded group as eligible for boosters instead of taking the crank position of the RFK Jrs to restrict their use to very narrow groups.

Does the COVID Booster help prevent Long COVID?

If someone already has been vaccinated against COVID previously wouldn't they already be protected against severe infections etc?

Are you saying the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands has a "crank position" on the COVID booster?

This is because the younger age group (flu vaccine group aged 18–49 years) has a lower risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19 compared to the older age group (flu vaccine group aged 50 years and older), and because the burden of disease has decreased over the past few years. A COVID-19 vaccination does not have enough added value for this younger group at this time.

 

[manly]

Looking over Europe it seems like a lot of countries in Europe have similar recommendations. Having the US following similar recommendations as in Europe doesn't seems to far of a outlier.

IIRC some of these Euro guidelines have been intact for a while (a couple years). The main difference is that their public policy is data-driven, whereas the updated U.S. policy seems driven by an anti-vax kook.

Based on some of the comments about long Covid, there might be a little misunderstanding going on as well. It's not that the Euros are dismissive of the primary Covid jabs; it's that they don't feel there's enough value in further boosters for younger folks. (I noticed you bolded this conclusion from the NL.) As long as they are drawing the correct conclusions from the available data, I agree we can't call those guidelines "shite."

From a public policy perspective, who's paying for the mRNA boosters? Is it Medicare mainly, and are healthy adults essentially paying out of pocket (via insurance)? The previous administration was paying outrageous prices to Moderna for boosters, and the adoption rate in the U.S. was pathetic and kept sinking. Most of the doses the Biden administration had bought either expired, or were presumably donated elsewhere.

 

[hal2kilo]

Republicans love dead Americans.

God's the only person who can sort it all out. /s

 

[Brovane]

IIRC some of these Euro guidelines have been intact for a while (a couple years). The main difference is that their public policy is data-driven, whereas the updated U.S. policy seems driven by an anti-vax kook.

Based on some of the comments about long Covid, there might be a little misunderstanding going on as well. It's not that the Euros are dismissive of the primary Covid jabs; it's that they don't feel there's enough value in further boosters for younger folks. (I noticed you bolded this conclusion from the NL.) As long as they are drawing the correct conclusions from the available data, I agree we can't call those guidelines "shite."

From a public policy perspective, who's paying for the mRNA boosters? Is it Medicare mainly, and are healthy adults essentially paying out of pocket (via insurance)? The previous administration was paying outrageous prices to Moderna for boosters, and the adoption rate in the U.S. was pathetic and kept sinking. Most of the doses the Biden administration had bought either expired, or were presumably donated elsewhere.

From reading Dr. Prasad Memorandum on why he made the decision he did I don't see a anti-vax outlook. More of a desire for the vaccine companies to demonstrate that the COVID boosters actually cause a risk reduction in the general population. Especially when you deal with non-high-risk individuals. Also this policy change draws the US more inline with inline with international consensus in recommending COVID-19 boosters to children and non-high risk adults.

https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/24b944c1a77fbed7/209038df-full.pdf

 

[DZero]

No worries. When the death rate increases and the number of people calling out this flue season starts to negatively impact businesses and the economy, it’s another thing trump can hang his hat on with yet another own goal.

Expecting the worst income: forbid sick people to enter hospitals and leave them for the rich.