EYECARE: Coronavirus BRIEFING: Crisis Response Tactics FDA Wants Annual COVID Boosters, Just Like Annual Flu Shots By Staff Tuesday, January 24, 2023 7:59 AM U.S. health officials want to simplify the recommended COVID-19 vaccine protocol, making it more like the process for annual flu shots.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is suggesting a single annual shot. The formulation would be selected in June targeting the most threatening COVID-19 strains, and then people could get a shot in the fall when people begin spending more time indoors and exposure increases. Some people, such as those who are older or immunocompromised, may need more than one dose.A national advisory committee is expected to vote on the proposal at a meeting on Thursday.People in the U.S. have been much less likely to get an updated COVID-19 booster shot, compared to widespread uptake of the primary vaccine series. In its proposal, the FDA indicated it hoped a single annual shot would overcome challenges created by the complexity of the process, both in messaging and administration, attributed to that low booster rate. Nine in 10 people age 12 or older got the primary vaccine series in the U.S., but only 15% got the latest booster shot for COVID-19.Head over to WebMD to read the full story.