Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a former anti-vaccine advocate who has spread misinformation about vaccines and autism, has led several U.S. policy and personnel changes so far, including more narrow national recommendations for who should get a COVID booster, firing and replacing a panel of health experts<\/a> who advise the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccines and reportedly firing CDC Director Susan Monarez<\/a> over disagreements about vaccine science. <\/p>\n Kennedy\u2019s statements and actions are a far cry from U.S. health policy a year ago, when anyone aged 6 months or older could get vaccinated against COVID, which was the 10th leading cause of death in August 2024<\/a>, according to provisional data from the federal government. People are now reeling from \u201cthe culture shock,\u201d said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. <\/p>\n Here\u2019s advice from medical experts about who can get vaccinated this fall. <\/p>\n Can I get vaccinated against the influenza and RSV?<\/p>\n The flu vaccine is available for everyone ages 6 months or older, said Dr. James Campbell, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist with the University of Maryland Medical Center and vice chair of the Committee on Infectious Diseases for the American Academy of Pediatrics. <\/p>\n The vaccine for RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is available for people who qualify, Benjamin said. <\/p>\n According to the CDC<\/a>, those who can receive this vaccine are: <\/p>\n Adults aged 75 or older But pregnant people also should consider getting vaccinated against RSV between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation if that time period falls between September and January. That would offer their fetus protection against the virus, which Campbell said is the \u201cNo. 1 cause of hospitalization for children under the age of 1.\u201d<\/p>\n Can I get vaccinated against COVID this fall?<\/p>\n Updated COVID vaccines will be available this fall after the CDC\u2019s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices meets on Sept. 18, but the Trump administration has erected more barriers for healthy children and adults to access that protection, Benjamin said. <\/p>\n Who is eligible to get vaccinated against COVID?<\/p>\n The Food and Drug Administration last week announced that people who qualify to receive the COVID vaccine this season include :<\/p>\n Those aged 65 or older \u201cThis is a big departure from past years, and it is quite unusual for the FDA to restrict a vaccine this way,\u201d epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina told PBS News Hour\u2019s Amna Nawaz. <\/p>\n WATCH: Epidemiologist breaks down new restrictions on COVID shots<\/a><\/p>\n These recommendations from the Trump administration contradict guidance from medical societies, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics<\/a> and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists<\/a>, which have recommended COVID vaccines for children who are 6 months or older and for pregnant people.<\/p>\n Graphic by Jenna Cohen\/PBS News<\/p>\n Even within the Trump administration, there is inconsistent messaging around who should get vaccinated against COVID, Benjamin said. Kennedy said in May<\/a> that the CDC would no longer recommend \u201chealthy\u201d pregnant people receive vaccine protection against the virus. But in its list of high-risk health conditions that qualify a person to get vaccinated, the CDC includes pregnancy<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cThe way this policy is being rolled out, it\u2019s out of order, it\u2019s inconsistent, it\u2019s very unclear, it\u2019s not transparent, has left a lot of pharmacies and physicians and families scrambling,\u201d Jetelina told PBS News Hour. <\/p>\n People who do not meet the age or diagnostic requirements for a COVID vaccine will need to consult with their physician and get a prescription for the vaccine, Benjamin said. <\/p>\n Will insurance cover my COVID vaccine?<\/p>\n Maybe. To make sense of these inconsistencies, Benjamin recommends that people call their health insurer to find out if their COVID vaccine dose is covered for the 2025-2026 season. But he also acknowledged that can create another barrier for people who may not have time to contact their insurance provider.<\/p>\n \u201cWe went from a single-payer universal health care plan for COVID \u2014 testing, coverage and vaccinations \u2014 to now a very complicated patchwork of who gets what and how do we pay for it,\u201d Benjamin said. <\/p>\n Can I get last season\u2019s COVID vaccine?<\/p>\n Yes, if you can find a dose from last season, said Michael Osterholm, an epidemiologist who directs the University of Minnesota\u2019s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. But anticipating the arrival of COVID vaccines for the 2025-2026 season, many pharmacies and clinics have tossed out last season\u2019s doses, Osterholm said. <\/p>\n Last year\u2019s dose \u201clikely has good cross-protection from the current variant\u201d and could offer a \u201cboost\u201d in protection, he said. But with uncertainty around the latest vaccine\u2019s availability, and with COVID infections rising<\/a>, Osterholm said, \u201cIt\u2019s a challenge to know what to do \u2014 go get the old vaccine or in two weeks hope to get the new vaccine.\u201d<\/p>\n \n We’re not going anywhere.\n <\/p>\n \n Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on!\n <\/p>\n
\nAdults between the ages of 50 and 74 who are at risk of developing severe illness<\/p>\n
\nThose 6 months or older and have at least one high-risk health condition<\/p>\n![\"vaccine-faq\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/vaccine-faq-1024x576.png\")
<\/p>\n