FDA Approves Updated COVID-19 Vaccines — Should You Get One?
Key Takeaways
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The FDA approved updated COVID-19 shots from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax.
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The agency approved the vaccines for adults 65 and older. Younger people at high risk for severe COVID-19 are also eligible, depending on the shot.
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Medicare will cover the updated shots, and many major private insurers say they plan to as well, though coverage and access may vary in some situations.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved four updated COVID-19 vaccines for the 2026-2027 respiratory virus season, with drugmakers saying the shots will be available soon.
Pfizer says it will begin shipping its vaccine immediately. In previous years, Moderna has released its COVID-19 vaccines within days of approval. Shots from Novavax will also be available in the coming days, with the timing varying by location.
All the updated shots target the XFG variant , which the FDA selected this spring to more closely match circulating strains.
"Updated COVID shots are worth getting, as they better match the virus now circulating. It is unfortunate they are not available right now, today, as we are experiencing the expected summer surge," says David Wohl, MD , a professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
COVID-19 activity is currently increasing across much of the country, although emergency department visits and hospitalizations remain low compared with earlier summer waves.
FDA Approves 4 COVID-19 Vaccine Options
Four updated vaccines will be available for the 2026-2027 respiratory virus season.
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Comirnaty, from Pfizer and BioNTech, is approved for adults 65 and older, and people ages 5 through 64 who have at least one health condition that puts them at increased risk of severe COVID-19.
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Spikevax, from Moderna, is approved for adults 65 and older and high-risk groups ages 6 months to 64 years.
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mNEXSPIKE, Moderna's newer, lower-dose vaccine, is approved for adults 65 and older and high-risk groups ages 12 to 64.
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Nuvaxovid, developed by Novavax and distributed in the United States by Sanofi, is approved for adults 65 and older and high-risk groups ages 12 to 64. Unlike the other shots, it is a protein-based, non-mRNA vaccine.
The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use mRNA , which are temporary genetic instructions that tell cells to make the coronavirus spike protein so the immune system learns to recognize it and attack it if infection occurs. The mRNA breaks down afterward and doesn't alter DNA.
Common vaccine side effects include injection-site pain, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, chills, and fever. Myocarditis and pericarditis are rare known risks after mRNA vaccination and have occurred most often in males ages 12 to 24.
Who Should Get an Updated COVID-19 Shot?
Guidance on COVID-19 vaccination varies by age and risk factors.
People 65 and Older and Those With Certain Medical Conditions
The FDA approved all vaccines for adults 65 and older. Younger people are eligible if they have at least one condition associated with a higher risk of severe COVID-19.
"For people at higher risk for developing severe disease, including the elderly, immunocompromised, or those with chronic heart, lung, or kidney problems, I would definitely recommend getting vaccinated," says Donald Dumford, MD , an infectious disease specialist at Cleveland Clinic Akron General in Ohio.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many health conditions raise the risk of serious COVID-19 infection, including:
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Asthma
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Cancer
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Chronic kidney, liver, and lung diseases
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Diabetes
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Heart disease
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Obesity
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Weakened immunity
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Certain neurological and mental health conditions
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Pregnancy
Healthy or Average Risk Adults Under Age 65
For healthy or average-risk people under 65, the picture is less straightforward. Dr. Dumford recommends discussing vaccination with a healthcare provider who knows your individual health history and risk factors.
The CDC has not yet issued vaccination recommendations for the 2026-2027 season. Its most recent guidance, for 2025-2026, advised vaccination for people ages 6 months and older based on individual decision-making, with the greatest expected benefit among people at increased risk of severe disease.
The American Medical Association has not issued a separate 2026-2027 COVID-19 recommendation, but in July reiterated its support for evidence-based immunizations and maintaining vaccine access.
Children and Pregnant Women
This is the most recent guidance from medical organizations for people in the following groups.
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Children The American Academy of Pediatrics 2026 schedule recommends vaccination for all children ages 6 months through 23 months; risk-based vaccination for children ages 2 through 17; and vaccination for children in that older group whose families want protection.
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Pregnant Women The most recent guidance from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), updated in August 2025, strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and lactation. Vaccination can happen during any trimester.
Do the Updated Shots Match the COVID-19 Variants Circulating Now?
In May, FDA advisers chose the XFG variant as a focus for this year's vaccines after reviewing which strains were circulating and how well different vaccine candidates were expected to match them.
"I think what is neat about the COVID vaccine and the mRNA vaccine platform is that these have a quick turnaround time for development, so the current, newly approved COVID vaccine is tailored to one of the predominant strains that is circulating right now," says Dumford.
XFG.1.1, a closely related descendant of XFG, is now the dominant U.S. strain. Another less closely related variant, BA.3.2, represents a smaller share of cases.
With COVID-19 cases currently rising, Dumford says, "It is probably a good idea to get vaccinated soon." Vaccination now could provide protection during the late-summer wave and as the winter respiratory virus season approaches, he adds.
Will Insurance Cover COVID-19 Shots This Year?
"Although there is less clarity on timing than we have had in the past and lingering questions about whether all who want the updated vaccines can get them and at what cost, I am hopeful the large pharmacy chains and insurers will do the right thing," says Dr. Wohl.
So far, there are encouraging signs for people with insurance. Medicare is expected to cover the shots. AHIP, whose members include many major private insurers, has said its plans will continue paying for COVID-19 vaccines, and UnitedHealthcare has made a similar commitment. Employer-sponsored plans can have different rules, however, so coverage isn't guaranteed in every case.
There is more uncertainty for people seeking vaccination outside the FDA-approved groups and for children who rely on the federal Vaccines for Children program. Check with your pharmacy or insurer before you try to get vaccinated to clarify eligibility, coverage, and any potential out-of-pocket costs.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy . We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
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Astor M. F.D.A. Approves New Covid Vaccines, and They Should Be Available Soon. The New York Times . August 27, 2026.
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Pfizer and BioNTech Receive U.S. FDA Approval for XFG-Adapted COVID-19 Vaccine. Pfizer . August 27, 2026.
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Moderna Receives U.S. FDA Approval for Updated 2026-2027 COVID-19 Vaccines. Moderna . August 27, 2026.
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Novavax's Partnership Strategy Continues to Deliver With XFG-Adapted Nuvaxovid Approvals in the U.S., EU and Japan for 2026-2027 Vaccination Season. Novavax . August 28, 2026.
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COVID-19 Vaccines (2026-2027 Formula) for Use in the United States Beginning in Fall 2026. U.S. Food and Drug Administration . May 29, 2026.
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COVID Cases Are Rising Again. Here's What to Know About the Summer Surge. NewYork-Presbyterian . August 28, 2026.
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mRNA Vaccine. Cleveland Clinic . October 25, 2024.
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Underlying Conditions and the Higher Risk for Severe COVID-19. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . February 6, 2025.
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2025-2026 COVID-19 Vaccination Guidance. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . November 4, 2025.
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AMA Actions to Maintain Access to Vaccines. American Medical Association . July 30, 2026.
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Recommended Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule: United States, 2026: Policy Statement. Pediatrics . February 9, 2026.
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COVID-19 Vaccines and Pregnancy: Conversation Guide for Clinicians. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists . August 2025.
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