The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved updated COVID-19 vaccines targeting a prevalent coronavirus strain, but restricted their use primarily to adults 65 and older and high-risk individuals. This decision narrows access compared to previous seasons, as healthy children and adults face limitations in obtaining the vaccine outside physician offices. The new boosters from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax align with variant subtypes anticipated for the 2025-26 respiratory season. The move has sparked public health concerns amid a rise in COVID-19 cases, wastewater positivity, and emergency visits, indicating increased viral prevalence nationwide.