VDH addresses new FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine with restrictions
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- After the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved updated COVID-19 vaccines for the upcoming fall/winter season for some Americans, with restrictions, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) has released information about the vaccine in Virginia.
Latest on the FDA-approved vaccine
The 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine, by Pfizer-BioNTech, was approved to be given to adults aged 65 and older, and to those between the ages of 5 and 64 with at least one underlying condition that places them at high risk for severe COVID.
Previously, the COVID vaccine was recommended for all Americans aged 6 months and older. The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) later updated the guidance, leaving the decision to vaccinate between patients or parents, and a doctor.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. touted the approval and restrictions in a social media post in late August.
Kennedy faced questions and criticism from both Democratic and Republican senators during a fiery Senate Finance Committee hearing on Sept. 4, with many questioning his handling of vaccine policy.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., appears before the Senate Finance Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Also in the spotlight during the hearing were personnel shakeups at the CDC's vaccine advisory panel, which is typically the next body to make recommendations about an FDA-approved vaccine's use to the CDC.
Virginia and vaccines
In a statement released by the VDH on Sept. 5, the department said that in Virginia, pharmacists can administer vaccines in two ways -- under the direct authorization of a medical provider, and following the Virginia Board of Pharmacy's statewide pharmacy protocols.
The department said those statewide pharmacy protocols allow pharmacists to give vaccines in accordance with with the CDC Immunization Schedule.
(Photo: 8News)
Currently, VDH noted that the CDC schedule references the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine formulation, but does not yet include the 2025–2026 formulation, which the department said is anticipated to better match the strains expected to circulate this season.
According to the VDH, to give an influenza or COVID-19 vaccine to children and teens ages 3 through 17, pharmacists must comply with the federal Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act.
Both the Federal PREP Act and the statewide protocols require pharmacists to administer vaccines in accordance with the CDC Immunization Schedule.
The VDH said the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is scheduled to meet on Sept. 18 through Sept. 19. VDH said it anticipates that ACIP will vote on the updated COVID-19 vaccines at this meeting.
If approved by the CDC, the department said pharmacists will be able to administer the COVID-19 vaccine.
Latest VDH COVID-19 data
From Aug. 24 through Aug. 30, VDH's emergency department data shows that overall respiratory illness activity in Virginia was minimal compared to the peak of last season and trending upward in comparison to last week.
That illness activity includes COVID-19, flu, RSV and other respiratory illnesses, like a cough and pneumonia, according to VDH.
COVID-19 activity accounted for 1.7% of all emergency department visits that week, according to the department.
(Courtesy of the Virginia Department of Health)
In both Central Virginia and the Commonwealth overall, VDH data shows there has been an increase in the percentage of emergency department visits for diagnosed COVID from May to September.
