The FDA Just Approved 4 Updated COVID Vaccines as Cases Rise. Here’s Who Should Get One
COVID-19 cases are rising again in parts of the U.S., especially in the South and West, as the country heads into another respiratory virus season. On September 15, 2026, the Food and Drug Administration approved four updated COVID-19 vaccines for the 2026-27 season, narrowing access to older adults and many higher-risk younger people. Manufacturers have started shipping doses, and the shots are already available at many pharmacies and clinics.
FDA clears four updated shots for the 2026-27 season
The FDA approved four vaccines updated to target the JN.1-lineage XFG variant, the strain tied to the current rise in infections. The approved shots are Moderna’s Spikevax, Moderna’s mNEXSPIKE, Pfizer-BioNTech’s Comirnaty, and Novavax-Sanofi’s Nuvaxovid, according to the federal approval announced September 15.
Eligibility differs slightly by product, but the broad pattern is the same. Moderna said Spikevax is approved for people 6 months through 64 with at least one underlying high-risk condition, plus all adults 65 and older. Pfizer-BioNTech said Comirnaty is approved for adults 65 and older and for people ages 5 through 64 with at least one condition that raises the risk of severe COVID-19.
Novavax-Sanofi’s Nuvaxovid is approved for people 65 and older and for ages 12 through 64 with at least one high-risk condition. Moderna’s mNEXSPIKE is approved for ages 12 through 64 with at least one high-risk condition, plus all adults 65 and older.
What this means in local communities and at pharmacies
The vaccines are being shipped now, and many clinics and pharmacies in U.S. communities already have appointments or walk-in availability. What is confirmed is that access is broader for adults 65 and older, while younger people generally need at least one qualifying condition under the FDA approvals.
What is not yet fully clear is how every insurer will handle the updated shots this season. Medicare Part B covers the full cost of the COVID-19 vaccine, and most private insurance plans usually cover vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, but that panel is currently suspended and its recommendations are paused.
An infectious disease expert, Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, said people should check with their insurer if they are unsure about coverage. He also noted that some plans may only cover the vaccine at an in-network pharmacy or clinic.
Why the guidance is narrower and who may still want one
The current approvals are more limited than earlier rounds of COVID vaccination, focusing on people most likely to develop severe illness. The CDC says age is still the strongest risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes, and it also lists conditions such as asthma, diabetes, depression, obesity, and physical inactivity as risks.
Medical groups including the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Medical Association continue to recommend updated vaccination for all adults. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends the vaccine for babies ages 6 to 23 months and older children whose parents want protection.
Schaffner said the vaccines are expected to do their best job preventing hospitalization and severe disease, not necessarily every mild infection. He also said some people may have short-term side effects such as soreness, fatigue, headache, or fever, while severe allergic reactions remain rare.
