CDC recommends 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccine for all adults, beyond FDA-approved groups

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidance recommending an updated COVID-19 vaccine for every adult in the country. The guidance, dated September 23, 2026, states: "A 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for all adults ages 18 years and older in the United States for the prevention of COVID-19."

The recommendation goes further than the groups the Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccines for, and the CDC's own guidance identifies several of those uses as off-label.

What the guidance says

For children, the CDC guidance states: "A 2026-2027 COVID-19 vaccine is also recommended for all children ages 6 months–17 years with moderate to severe immunocompromise; for all other children, a COVID-19 vaccine is recommended through shared clinical decision-making." The CDC describes that as a decision made between parents or legal guardians and health care professionals.

The guidance says adults 65 and older receive two doses of the 2026-2027 vaccine, regardless of previous vaccination history. It also says patients should discuss the benefits and risks of vaccination with health care providers to make informed and personalized decisions.

The Epoch Times reported that the CDC advises a dose for all adults unless they have special situations, such as a history of heart inflammation within three weeks of receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

The FDA approvals and off-label use

According to Today, the FDA approved four updated vaccines targeting the XFG variant: Moderna's Spikevax and Mnexspike, Pfizer-BioNTech's Comirnaty, and Novavax's protein-based Nuvaxovid. They are approved for adults 65 and older and for people ages 6 months to 64 with underlying medical conditions. Before the CDC guidance, Today reported on September 22 that no official CDC guidance existed for the season, and that medical organizations had issued their own advice.

The CDC guidance itself lists the off-label uses. It says vaccinating people ages 12 to 64 without high-risk conditions is off-label use, as is vaccinating children ages 5 to 11 without high-risk conditions. It also states: "Giving more than one dose of COVID-19 vaccine to adults ages 65 years and older is off-label use."

Reaction

The guidance drew criticism from parts of the Make America Healthy Again movement. Just the News reported that the CDC cited 'legal uncertainties and inquiries' for the broad recommendations, which reinstated guidance from its July 2025 immunization schedule. The outlet said neither the CDC nor the Department of Health and Human Services responded to its questions, and that HHS dismissed criticism as 'irrelevant outside attacks.'

Dr. Mary Talley Bowden, founder of Americans for Health Freedom, told The Epoch Times: "This move from the CDC demonstrates total disregard for safety, the will of the people and administrative transparency."

Just the News reported that, according to CDC estimates, about 18% of adults and 10% of children were up to date on COVID-19 vaccines in the 2025-2026 season.

Why it matters

CDC recommendations influence what vaccines doctors and pharmacies offer and what insurers cover. Today reported that most insurers, including Medicare and Medicaid, will cover the cost of COVID-19 vaccines. The gap between the CDC's broad recommendation and the FDA's narrower approvals means many adults would receive the vaccine off-label. People with questions about their own situation should talk with a health care provider.

Sources

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.