Seasonal COVID Booster Rollout in Doubt as FDA Stalls Under Trump

The Trump administration suggests it may end routine annual COVID boosters, raising concerns that Americans won’t have updated vaccines for the next winter surge. Insiders say the FDA, aligned with the president’s skeptical stance on extensive COVID measures, is delaying approvals for new booster formulas. Industry watchers say this threatens to unravel a “flu-like model” for seasonal shots. Some officials argue data no longer justifies universal boosters, but public health experts warn new variants might surface, and lack of updated vaccines could leave populations vulnerable. Pharmaceutical companies also face uncertainty—producing millions of doses requires lead time. If the feds block or slow booster guidance, the US might forgo widely available updated shots this fall, reversing prior progress on maintaining immunity.