The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off on a recommendation that patients must consult a health care provider to get a Covid-19 vaccine, although they don’t necessarily need a prescription.

Amid confusion over this year's updated COVID-19 vaccines, we explain what's different this year and who experts say should get vaccinated.

XFG, a recombination of variants LF.7 and LP.8.1.2, experienced a meteoric rise to become the predominant strain, having been responsible for 0% of U.S. cases through March, 14% by late June, 42% by early July and 70% by late August.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has adopted recommendations by a new group of vaccine advisers, and has stopped recommending COVID-19 shots for anyone.

The changes follow criticism from some social media influencers about how returning troops have been treated at military intake facilities.

“Doing so would ‘clear the path for a one-party system where power serves the powerful and silences the people,” Black Voters Matter Fund co-founder LaTosha Brown said in a statement. The report warns that as many as 30% of Congressional Black Caucus seats and 11% of Congressional Hispanic Caucus seats could be redrawn out of existence.