The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the fall COVID-19 shots with new restrictions that limit vaccine access to those at “higher risk,” Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Aug. 27 on social media.
The move was part of a series of RFK Jr.’s federal health policy overhauls that have made updated COVID-19 vaccines only available to those over 65 and younger people with existing health problems. That change could limit health insurance coverage for the vaccines, leaving many people paying up to $200 out-of-pocket for the shot.
What RFK Jr. said about FDA COVID vaccine restrictions
RFK Jr.’s announcement about limiting access to COVID vaccines this fall and winter was released on X, the social media platform.
“FDA has now issued marketing authorization for those at higher risk: Moderna (6+ months), Pfizer (5+), and Novavax (12+),” he wrote, adding “These vaccines are available for all patients who choose them after consulting with their doctors.”
RFK Jr. also noted that the FDA on Aug. 27 took actions that rescinded “emergency use authorizations for COVID vaccines, once used to justify broad mandates on the general public during the Biden administration.”
More: RFK Jr. is winding down mRNA vaccine development. What does that mean for vaccines in NY?
What FDA said about COVID vaccine restrictions
The FDA provided USA TODAY Network New York with its new Aug. 27 COVID vaccine authorization documents, which noted those under 65 seeking COVID vaccines must have “at least one underlying condition that puts them at high risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19.”
The documents lacked specifics about which “underlying condition” would qualify as putting people at high risk, but RFK Jr.’s social media post suggested health providers could provide guidance on the issue.
Some of the “higher risk” conditions for COVID-19 patients listed on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website included asthma, cancer, diabetes and heart conditions. But that agency also noted “age remains the strongest risk factor for severe COVID-19 outcomes, with risk of severe outcomes increasing markedly with increasing age.”
The health agency added that compared with ages 18–29 years, the risk of death due to COVID is 25 times higher in those ages 50–64 years, 60 times higher in those ages 65–74 years, 140 times higher in those ages 75–84 years, and 340 times higher in those ages 85+ years.
Will health insurance in New York drop COVID vaccines?
The Infectious Diseases Society of America, a trade group representing thousands of doctors, scientists and other medical experts, urged health insurers in New York and nationally to maintain coverage for COVID-19 vaccines for all ages, despite any federal policy changes.
In 2024, state health officials noted, New York had more children under age 4 admitted to a hospital related to COVID than for flu — over 1,300 for COVID and 1,100 for flu.
Some national health insurance trade groups have indicated they expect to provide coverage for COVID-19 vaccines this fall based on federal guidance, though the specifics vary based on the federal agency involved and type of plan. Put differently, health plans provided by large employers may cover the shots while those using other insurance plans may find it more difficult to get shots.
Will New York mandate health insurers cover COVID vaccines?
In June, state lawmakers in New York introduced new legislation seeking to mandate health insurance coverage for the COVID-19 vaccine, citing in part Kennedy’s policy changes.
“RFK Jr. said himself that no one should take his medical advice, and I agree,” state Senator Andrew Gounardes, D-Brooklyn, said in a statement announcing the legislation.
“The Trump administration may continue to spew misinformation and confusing, contradictory advice, but New York should stay laser-focused on protecting the health of our children, expectant parents and everyone else in our community,” Gounardes said, adding the bill “ensures everyone who wants the COVID-19 vaccine can get it.”
Still, the prospects of the legislation passing before the fall are slim. State lawmakers are on summer recess and don’t reconvene session until January. At the same time, some state lawmakers have been pushing recently to hold a special session before 2026, citing in part a need to address negative impacts of federal measures related to health care funding and policy.
This story has been updated with new information from the FDA
Includes reporting by USA TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: FDA approves new COVID vaccine restrictions, RFK Jr. says. What to know in NY
Reporting by David Robinson, New York State Team / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
