In a significant step toward shaping the future of Covid-19 protection, the Food and Drug Administration’s advisory panel gave its unanimous approval on Thursday for updating current vaccines to target a more dominant strain. This marks the first such meeting since the Trump administration returned to leadership, and it signals a shift in how the U.S. will handle Covid variants going forward.
The primary aim of the session was twofold: to select which strain of Covid should be used in the next round of booster shots, and to confirm new FDA rules that would limit vaccine access to specific groups. While the meeting had a clear scientific purpose, it also unfolded during a time of broader changes in the nation’s public health policies.
“This isn’t just another update—it’s a critical decision,” said Dr. Arnold Monto, epidemiologist and committee chair. “We need to provide sound advice to help the FDA pick the right variant to fight moving forward.”
Earlier in the week, top Trump health officials revealed a notable shift in strategy. Instead of promoting boosters across the board, the government now plans to take a more cautious approach, emphasizing placebo-based studies for healthy people under 65, and reserving immediate access for those at higher risk.
“We published a detailed roadmap in the New England Journal of Medicine,” said Dr. Vinay Prasad, who leads the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “The aim is to produce trustworthy data that truly reflects the needs of the American people,” he added, pointing to the new clinical trial requirements for younger age groups.
According to this plan, Covid-19 vaccines would be offered primarily to those aged 65 and older, along with people who face significant health risks. For everyone else—especially healthy children and adults—vaccine makers will now be required to conduct rigorous trials to justify continued use.
During the daylong deliberations, the FDA’s independent vaccine panel came to a clear consensus: next year’s vaccines, covering the 2025-2026 season, should specifically target new strains derived from the JN.1 variant. While the panel’s decision is advisory, the FDA typically follows their lead when setting vaccine policies.
At present, the U.S. has three major Covid vaccines approved for public use: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, and Novavax.
Traditionally, the FDA would determine vaccine composition, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would advise on who should receive the shots. But this time, the Trump administration bypassed its expert boards and went straight to policy changes, catching some by surprise.
Dr. Prasad stepped into his leadership role at the FDA after Dr. Peter Marks, a long-serving figure in vaccine policy, resigned. His exit reportedly stemmed from ongoing disputes with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long questioned vaccine safety and rejected mainstream medical findings.
The CDC reports that a subvariant known as LP.8.1—which stems from JN.1—now makes up about 70% of new Covid infections in the U.S. as of mid-May. This shows the virus is still circulating widely, though it’s evolving more slowly than in past years.
“Compared to earlier phases of the pandemic, we’re seeing less genetic change,” said Dr. Natalie Thornburg, a CDC microbiologist. “Still, the virus continues to adapt.” She noted that a new strain, BA.3.2, has recently been detected in South African wastewater, although it hasn’t yet spread significantly.
Government health experts told the committee that Covid-19 remains deadly, even if hospitalization rates have fallen since the worst surges in 2021 and 2022. Vulnerable groups—particularly !still face the greatest risk of severe illness.
From October of last year until now, CDC estimates show that 30,000 to 50,000 Americans have died from Covid, and hospitalizations have ranged between 260,000 and 430,000.
“When you zoom out and look at the full year, the burden on the healthcare system is still enormous,” said Dr. Ruth Link-Gelles, a CDC epidemiologist who spoke at the meeting.
Nearly the entire U.S. population has now been infected with Covid-19 at some point, which means most people have infection-driven immunity. But this protection doesn’t last forever, and public health experts warn it will fade over time.
That’s where vaccination comes in. According to the CDC, vaccine-induced immunity should be seen as an extra shield, not a replacement. Even if someone’s had Covid, boosters still provide additional protection against severe outcomes.
That said, evaluating vaccine performance in children has become difficult. With fewer kids getting vaccinated and lower infection rates this past season, researchers had little data to work with. However, the youngest age group—especially babies and toddlers—still showed the highest risk of hospitalization.
As the FDA prepares to make its final ruling, one thing remains clear: the Covid-19 virus may have slowed, but it hasn’t gone away. With new strains on the horizon and evolving vaccine strategies, the next chapter in America’s Covid response will demand careful science, clear communication, and strong leadership.
Description:
"FDA experts recommend updating Covid-19 vaccines to target new JN.1 variants as the Trump administration rolls out stricter booster rules. Discover what this means for access, vaccine updates, and evolving virus threats in the U.S."