Big news for fall 2025: COVID-19 vaccine guidance just got a major update, and it’s shaking up what parents, seniors, and health-conscious Americans need to know. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has now authorized COVID-19 boosters only for high-risk groups, signaling a shift from universal vaccination to a more targeted approach.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took to social media to announce the move, highlighting the FDA’s decision as a win for “science, safety, and common sense.” Kennedy emphasized four key promises he had made:
- End COVID vaccine mandates.
- Keep vaccines available to those who want them, especially vulnerable populations.
- Require placebo-controlled trials from manufacturers.
- Conclude the emergency status for COVID vaccines.
According to Kennedy, the latest FDA actions check all four boxes.
Who Qualifies as “High-Risk”?
Under the new framework, vaccines from Moderna (6 months+), Pfizer (5 years+), and Novavax (12 years+) remain available, but only for individuals at higher risk of severe COVID. This includes:
- Adults over 65
- People with chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, or lung disease
- Individuals with obesity, dementia, mood disorders, or immune system challenges
The CDC has a detailed list of conditions that increase COVID-19 severity, from cerebrovascular disease to chronic liver or kidney conditions. Essentially, if your health puts you in a more vulnerable category, these vaccines are still in play—but for everyone else, vaccination becomes a personal choice.
Emergency Use Authorizations Are Over
One of the biggest shifts? The FDA has rescinded emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for COVID vaccines. The vaccines now carry marketing authorization for high-risk groups, meaning they are fully approved for those who meet criteria, rather than being broadly mandated or emergency-recommended.
“This is a pivotal moment in public health policy,” says Dr. Elaine Chen, infectious disease expert at Johns Hopkins University. “We’re moving from blanket mandates to personalized, informed decision-making, which reflects the evolving science and risk landscape.”
Kids and COVID Vaccines: Shared Decisions, Not Defaults
The guidance is also changing for children. In May 2025, Kennedy announced that COVID vaccines would be removed from the CDC’s routine immunization schedule for healthy children and pregnant women. Rather than a universal recommendation, vaccination decisions will now involve shared clinical decision-making, where parents and pediatricians discuss risks, benefits, and individual circumstances.
Despite this, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) still includes the COVID vaccine in its annual immunization schedule. As Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, explains:
“It should be a conversation between the pediatrician, patient, and parent, and should depend on the child’s health as well as the current state of COVID.”
In short, parents are encouraged to engage in personalized discussions about whether vaccination is right for their child, rather than assuming a one-size-fits-all mandate.
What This Means for You
If you’re under 65 and healthy, COVID vaccination is now a choice, not a requirement. For older adults, immunocompromised individuals, and those with chronic conditions, vaccines remain a recommended tool to reduce severe illness. Kennedy’s messaging is clear: the public deserves safety, science, and common sense—without mandates.
As public health evolves, this new framework may also signal how authorities handle future vaccines and boosters, balancing accessibility for high-risk groups with informed personal choice for the broader population.
Stay informed, talk to your doctor, and make the choice that fits your health. Science is no longer one-size-fits-all.
