Overview

• The FDA cleared updated Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax shots for the 2025–26 season but restricted routine use to adults 65 and older and to younger people with at least one qualifying medical condition.
• Moderna is authorized for high-risk ages 6 months to 64, Pfizer for high-risk ages 5 to 64, and Novavax for high-risk ages 12 to 64, with all three available to everyone 65 and up.
• Pfizer’s emergency authorization for children under 5 was revoked, leaving Moderna as the only option for the youngest children and only for those with serious health problems.
• The updated formulations target the LP.8.1 subvariant in the JN.1 lineage, with Pfizer shipping immediately and Moderna expecting availability within days.
• The CDC has not issued formal guidance following the advisory panel shake-up, leaving insurers and pharmacies uncertain about coverage, eligibility documentation and possible out-of-pocket costs of roughly $120–$150.