New COVID Shots Approved, but Insurance Coverage Is Uncertain

The FDA approved updated COVID vaccines from Moderna, Novavax-Sanofi, and Pfizer-BioNTech on August 27, 2026, targeting the XFG variant. But a CDC advisory panel has been stuck since a March 2026 court ruling blocked Health Secretary Kennedy's appointments. Without the CDC's formal recommendation, insurers may not have to cover the shots — leaving patients to pay themselves.