Immunizations for COVID-19 and influenza for the upcoming 2026 season have received official clearance.
WASHINGTON — On Thursday, Moderna and Pfizer BioNTech revealed that their newly updated COVID-19 vaccines have gained the green light from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
These vaccines are expected to hit shelves at neighborhood pharmacies and healthcare offices within the next few days.
The fresh formulations focus on the XFG subvariant, which was responsible for a surge in COVID-19 cases last year, as reported by New York Presbyterian.
Who is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine?
Those eligible for the Moderna vaccine include individuals aged 65 and older, as well as those aged 6 months and above with underlying health challenges, such as asthma, diabetes, cancer, cardiac issues, and obesity, which heightens their risk of severe COVID-19 effects.
Pfizer’s vaccine is approved for people over 65, and people 5 and older with underlying conditions.
What is the risk of COVID-19 right now?
As of Aug. 26, the Centers for Disease Control reported COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 48 states, and declining in zero of them. However, the weekly percentage of emergency department visits is very low.
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Will vaccines be available for free to everyone?
CVS said the new COVID-19 vaccine will be available in pharmacies for eligible customers at no cost, depending on insurance coverage. Walgreens said it would be available shortly. A prescription may be required in some states if a patient is under 65 or doesn’t have underlying health conditions, but other states have said anyone who wants a vaccine will be able to get one.
Last year, coronavirus shots were not available for the start of the season at many pharmacies nationwide after U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in June 2025. He hand-picked several vaccine skeptics to replace them, leading to delays in the CDC’s recommendation on who should receive the shots. The panel ultimately narrowed their recommendations for who should get the vaccine to older people or those at risk of complications. This year, the ACIP is blocked from meeting because of a federal court order challenging the appointments to the panel.
Many insurers have said they’ll continue to cover the vaccine’s entire cost to patients of the vaccine despite the federal hold.
What about the flu vaccine?
Updated flu vaccines are also now available at major pharmacies. Health experts say September or October are the best times to get vaccinated, before the annual flu season peaks. The CDC recommends that nearly everyone six months and older get the flu vaccine each year.
The CDC said the 2025-2026 flu vaccine is trivalent, meaning it protects against three main influenza viruses: a Type A(H1N1) virus, a Type A(H3N2) virus, and a Type B/Victoria lineage virus.
The FDA has also approved the first mRNA influenza vaccine, mFlusiva. It’s intended for people age 50 and older and was developed using the same technology as the coronavirus vaccine.
Health officials say it’s safe for most people to get a flu and COVID-19 shot at the same time.