Summarised by Centrist
The US Food and Drug Administration has reversed course on COVID vaccine policy, limiting access to those aged 65 and older or people with serious health conditions.
Everyone else will now need an off-label prescription from a doctor to get the shot.
The move was led by the FDA’s new chief medical and scientific officer, Dr Vinay Prasad, who overruled staff recommendations for broader use. More than 30 agency scientists had approved new Novavax and Moderna shots for the general public. But Prasad said the balance of risks no longer justifies mass vaccination, given how sharply COVID’s threat has declined.
“Even rare vaccine-related harms, both known and unknown, now have a higher chance of outweighing potential benefits in non-high-risk populations,” he wrote. The decision aligns with growing calls to apply more caution and rigour in public health policy, after years of blanket mandates.
Critics within the public health establishment have protested the move, warning about long COVID and heart risks. However, supporters argue that a return to the basic principles of risk-benefit analysis is precisely the kind of reset the FDA needs. They point out that younger, healthier people were never at high risk from the virus but faced pressure to vaccinate regardless.
In another sign that the era of one-size-fits-all COVID health advice may be ending, the FDA is also reviewing previous guidance on vaccines for pregnant women and children.
Read more over at The New York Times (paywalled)
