Updated COVID-19 vaccines are expected to arrive at Virginia pharmacies, doctors' offices, and clinics later this month, but federal rules won't make them available to everyone.
The Food and Drug Administration recently updated 2026-27 COVID-19 vaccines to target XFG only, rather than combining protection against multiple virus variants. XFG was the dominant coronavirus strain when the formulas were selected in May.
The approval comes as COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 48 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in an Aug. 28 update.
While COVID-19 cases are likely growing in most of Virginia's 95 counties, the CDC reports that cases are growing in a handful of counties along the North Carolina border. These include: Grayson, Carrol, Patrick, Henry, Brunswick and Greenville counties.
Wastewater surveillance data as of Aug. 28 shows COVID-19 case rates are "very high" and "high" in Texas and Mississippi, respectively. California and Florida are among seven states, largely in the South and West, with "moderate" infections, and most other states reported low activity.
Overall, though, the CDC says COVID-19 rates across the country are "very low," which matches current wastewater viral activity levels in Virginia. However, recent measurements found high and very high levels of activity at wastewater facilities serving the following communities:
High
Very High
A school in Texas said the "rapid spread" of COVID-19 prompted its decision to cancel classes for two days recently, and in Louisiana, the Park Ridge Achievement Academy shut down temporarily for a day "out of an abundance of caution" after students and staff reported infections.
The current trend is consistent with the seasonal pattern of the virus, according to Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
"We've had two waves (every year). One in the middle to late summer, and the other during the winter," Schaffner told NBC's "Today" show.
Health experts recommend keeping sick kids home and staying up to date on vaccinations.
Despite the rise in infection rates, hospital and emergency department visits remain low compared with past years, according to CDC data. Health experts say that indicates community immunity is keeping most infections mild.
The FDA recommended the shots for everyone 65 and older and for younger people with at least one condition that raises their risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Those conditions include asthma, diabetes, obesity, heart or lung disease, and pregnancy.
Eligibility among younger people depends on the vaccine. Moderna's Spikevax is approved for high-risk patients 6 months and older; the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for those 5 and older; and Moderna's mNexspike and the Novavax vaccine for those 12 and older.
The FDA's decision mirrors the annual process used to update flu vaccines. FDA advisers reviewed which variants were spreading, how well last year's vaccines worked, and laboratory evidence showing how the immune system responded to newer variants. The agency said it will continue watching for changes in the virus and monitoring the vaccines' safety and effectiveness.
The CDC has not issued vaccination recommendations for the 2026-27 season. Its most recent guidance says people should decide whether to get a COVID-19 shot based on their age, health risks and a consultation with a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Because insurance coverage may depend on federal recommendations, people should check with their insurer before making an appointment.
Medicare Part B covers FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines with no copay when a participating provider administers the shots.
AHIP, an organization that includes most health insurers, said last year that most of its members cover the entire cost of vaccines and that its "evidence-based approach to coverage of immunizations will remain consistent."
However, coverage for vaccines is typically linked to CDC vaccine advisory committee recommendations, Forbes reported. Because the CDC vaccine advisory committee has not met this year because of legal issues, no federal recommendations have been issued, creating uncertainty about private insurer coverage, Forbes said.
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