New COVID Vaccine Faces Tight Limits

The FDA has given the green light to the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. However, it comes with a catch. The vaccine is only for older adults and those over 12 with health issues that put them at high risk from COVID. This decision follows years of testing. The CDC has been discussing whether to limit COVID vaccines to only the most vulnerable. The FDA's move seems to answer that question, at least partly. However, this leaves out healthy adults under 65 who might want the vaccine to protect others. It also leaves them in a tough spot if a more dangerous COVID strain shows up. Critics are worried. They think these limits show the Health Secretary's doubts about vaccines. One former FDA head even called the situation "very scary. " The Health Secretary has even ordered a probe into the false claim that vaccines cause autism. Before this, the Novavax vaccine was only okayed for emergency use. Meanwhile, Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna got full approval in 2022. These companies are now working on updated versions of their vaccines for the fall. Dr. Camille Kotton, an infectious disease expert and former CDC adviser, was not happy with the FDA's decision. She said, "I don't get it. There's no clear reason for this change. " Kotton, who treats patients with weak immune systems, added, "This is a bad day for American medicine. " The FDA's move raises questions. Why limit the vaccine this way? Is it about safety, or is something else at play? Only time will tell. But one thing is clear: the COVID vaccine rollout is far from straightforward.