US health officials have scaled back guidance that people of all ages routinely get Covid shots. Instead, a panel of vaccine advisers on Sept. 19 recommended that individuals consult a health-care provider about whether to obtain the vaccine. While the panel stopped short of requiring prescriptions, the recommendations caused confusion about whether the vaccine would be widely available and covered by health insurance.
When the Covid-19 pandemic brought normal life to a halt in 2020, scientists raced to produce a vaccine. The shots, developed at record speed, saved millions of lives. More than five years later, the danger from the disease is vastly diminished thanks to vaccines and the immunity people gained from prior infections. But many medical experts say Covid infections still present a threat, especially for older people and those with certain medical conditions.