COVID activity in the District of Columbia remains low, but federal health data shows infections are beginning to climb nationally. The timing coincides with a controversial decision by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to restrict access to updated fall COVID shots, raising fears about how the District may fare as respiratory virus season intensifies.

The FDA approved new shots only for seniors and those with certain medical conditions. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the move in the last week of August, a sharp break from the prior guidance that recommended vaccination for nearly everyone six months and older.

“The FDA approved updated COVID-19 shots on Wednesday, but limited their use for many Americans, recommending them only for people 65 and

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