US health officials want to make the COVID-19 vaccination similar to the annual flu shot.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed a simplified approach for future vaccinations, allowing most adults and children to be vaccinated once a year to protect against a mutant virus.
This means that Americans no longer need to know how many shots they have received or how many months have passed since their last recall.
The proposal arose as booster doses began to fall out of favor. While more than 80% of the US population has received at least one dose of the vaccine, only 16% of those who qualify received the last approved boosters in August.
The FDA will seek advice from a panel of outside experts at a meeting Thursday. The agency should consider their advice when deciding on future requirements for vaccine makers.
