COVID cases rise in California as FDA sets new vaccine limits. Who’s eligible?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- FDA approved a reformulated COVID-19 vaccine targeting LP.8.1 for 2025–2026.
- Vaccine eligibility is now limited.
- California reports rising cases as pharmacies await updated vaccine guidance.
With COVID-19 cases climbing across California, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved new COVID-19 vaccines — but with new limits on who can receive them.
In an Aug. 27 news release, Pfizer and BioNTech said the 2025-2026 vaccines were reformulated under FDA guidance to better target the SARS-CoV-2 sublineage LP.8.1 strain currently circulating.
According to the California Department of Public Health, officials expect LP.8.1 to become the most common and “fastest growing” COVID-19 variant.
“Shipping of the LP.8.1-adapted vaccine will begin immediately to ensure robust supply and rapid access of this season’s vaccine in pharmacies, hospitals and clinics across the country,” Pfizer and BioNTech said in the release.
Here’s who can get the new COVID vaccine under the updated guidelines:
Who is eligible to get new COVID-19 vaccines approved by FDA?
Unlike past years, the new COVID vaccines are no longer available to everyone 6 months and older, according to the Pfizer news release.
Instead, the FDA is restricting access to COVID shots to people at higher risk for severe illness.
The shot is available for adults 65 and older. People ages 5 to 64 who have health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe illness are also eligible to receive the vaccine.
Who shouldn’t get the new COVID vaccine?
According to Pfizer, you should not get the new COVID-19 vaccine if you’ve had a severe allergic reaction to a previous dose or to any ingredient in the vaccine.
“A severe allergic reaction would usually occur within a few minutes to 1 hour after getting a dose,” Pfizer said. “For this reason, the vaccination provider may ask you or your child to stay at the place where you or your child received the vaccine for monitoring after vaccination.”
Signs of an allergic reaction can include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling in the face and throat
- Eccelerated heartbeat
- Rash all over the body
- Dizziness and weakness
Vaccination “may not protect all people who receive the vaccine,” Pfizer said.
Will California have its own COVID vaccine requirements?
According to a news release from California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office, the states of California, Oregon and Washington are teaming up to create their own COVID vaccine guidelines.
Newsom, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson said they’re doing this because of concerns over federal leadership, including recent firings at the Centers for Disease Control and actions by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
The new West Coast Alliance will work together to share clear information on when people should get vaccines and how effective they are.
When will new COVID vaccines be available in California?
While the new 2025–2026 COVID-19 vaccines have been approved by the FDA, availability is still waiting on final guidance from state and federal health officials.
As of Wednesday, Sept. 3, California pharmacies and health systems were still assessing supply, and vaccination appointments remained on hold.
Are COVID cases increasing in California?
As of Wednesday, COVID-19 cases were on the rise in California, according to the California Department of Public Health.
In the most recent update on Aug. 23, the department reported that California had a 12.1% test positivity rate on average over a seven-day period.
This is an increase of 2.7% compared to the previous week, the department said on its website.
According to the CDC, viral activity levels for COVID-19 in wastewater are “high.”
Why do coronavirus cases rise in the summer?
Although respiratory viruses typically spike in the colder months, summer can bring its own risks when it comes to COVID-19.
According to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, summer COVID-19 spikes are often caused by travel, indoor get-togethers and fading immunity over time.
“While it’s still too early to say whether this dual seasonality will peter out or become the norm, understanding why these summer surges happen can help us better protect against infection, severe disease, and ruined vacations,” experts at Johns Hopkins said in a 2024 report.
What is the latest COVID-19 strain?
Cases of the latest coronavirus strain, known as NB.1.8.1, have been increasing statewide since May 1, according to the California Department of Public Health.
According to the World Health Organization, NB.1.8.1 is a subvariant of the Omicron lineage, specifically descending from JN.1.
It carries six mutations in the spike protein, which can enhance its ability to spread.
What are symptoms of new COVID-19 variant?
Symptoms of the new COVID-19 variant are similar to those of other coronavirus variants, the CDC said.
They include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
This story was originally published September 5, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "COVID cases rise in California as FDA sets new vaccine limits. Who’s eligible?."
