U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Policy Shift Changes Access to COVID-19 Vaccines
By Marge | Published 2025-08-27T19:23:41.048+00:00
News
WNC -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced a significant policy change that is altering the nation's approach to COVID-19 vaccination for the 2025-2026 season. This new guidance moves away from a universal vaccination recommendation and has created a more complex system that directly impacts healthy individuals under age 65 across Western North Carolina.
The new federal policy, which treats the COVID-19 vaccine similarly to a seasonal flu shot, is now based on a tiered, risk-based system. The official recommendations for the updated COVID-19 vaccines (including Novavax, Pfizer, and Moderna) are now limited to two primary groups:Adults aged 65 and older.Individuals aged 12 to 64 who have at least one underlying high-risk health condition, such as a chronic illness or disability.For these two groups, the government’s message is clear, and access t