NY Times…..
Updated Covid vaccines are now available, after the Food and Drug Administration approved them in late August.
Moderna and Pfizer, which make the most commonly used Covid vaccines, confirmed that they had shipped doses of the new shots, which can be found at pharmacies and doctors’ offices. Sanofi, which distributes a non-mRNA option called Nuvaxovid (commonly known as Novavax), said it had begun shipping as well.
However, criteria set by the F.D.A. and a legal dispute stemming from past Trump administration actions could complicate access for some people.
Here is what we know. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.
Who is eligible for the vaccines?
The F.D.A. approved the shots for all people 65 and older, and for younger people who have a condition that increases their risk of severe illness from Covid.
The Moderna shot is approved for ages 6 months and older, the Pfizer shot for ages 5 years and older and the Sanofi shot for ages 12 years and older. (A lower-dose Moderna shot, called mNexspike, is also approved for ages 12 and up.)
About 30 percent to 60 percent of Americans have a qualifying condition, F.D.A. officials estimated last year. Aside from age, a long list of factors can increase the risk of severe illness. They include asthma, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity and pregnancy, as well as cancer, immune deficiency, some mental illnesses and various heart and lung diseases.
People who are not formally eligible may still be able to get vaccinated. Doctors can administer vaccines off label, meaning outside F.D.A. approval criteria. But there may be logistical hurdles: Because most Americans who get Covid shots do so at pharmacies, not all doctors’ offices stock them. And pharmacists in some states may be unable, or may decline, to administer shots off label.
Walgreens — one of the nation’s largest pharmacy chains — said it would allow people to self-attest that they met the criteria, without requiring documentation. CVS, another of the largest chains, is currently requiring prescriptions only in Louisiana.
A spokeswoman for Walmart said it would require prescriptions “in some states” but didn’t specify which ones.
Should I get one?
Major medical organizations recommend the updated vaccines for all adults, including during pregnancy; all children under 2; and children over 2 with high-risk medical conditions. It is also appropriate for healthy children over 2 to get a shot if their parents want them to, the American Academy of Pediatrics said.
These recommendations are broader than the F.D.A. approval, but doctors can administer the vaccines to anyone….
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