In late August the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved updated covid 19 vaccines but introduced new restrictions on eligibility.
The updated guidelines restrict vaccine eligibility to people 65 and older as well as individuals 6 months of age or older with underlying health conditions.
Tia Kafka, Marketing and Outreach Director of South Dakota’s Department of Health told Siouxland Public Media Thursday that the DOH does not expect the changes to the vaccine to have a significant impact, given current vaccination trends.
Kafka noted that since 2022 the majority of individuals who continue to get the vaccine have been 65 or older.
She said the CDC and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices have not yet issued recommendations for the 2025-2026 respiratory illness season, but those are expected to come during their September meeting.
Kafka also said, “In all cases, the DOH recommends consulting with a patient’s health care provider on this and all other immunizations."