Advisers to Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. did not recommend COVID-19 vaccines for any population group, leaving the decision in the hands of individuals after consulting with medical personnel.

Until now, vaccination had been recommended as a routine measure in the fall for almost all Americans, just like the annual flu shot, the Associated Press (AP) reminded. That, this time, changed.

So, in a series of votes, advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) took the unprecedented step of not recommending them even for high-risk populations like the elderly.

They went even further: The divided panel narrowly avoided urging states to require a prescription for the vaccine. The move came after protests from some advisers, who said the extra step would block access to vaccination.

“I have to wait a year” to see my primary care physician, said panelist Dr. Cody Meissner of Dartmouth College. “It’s basically going to be a hindrance,” AP reported.

Expert Reactions

Public health experts have expressed concern about the lack of recommendations, which could lead to confusion among the public, especially in high-risk groups.

Despite the decision, the vaccines are still considered to offer significant protection against severe infections.

“The good news is anyone can get vaccinated. The bad news is nobody is recommended to get vaccinated, even if they’re in a high-risk group,” said Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine researcher at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a former government adviser who has disagreed with Kennedy for years.

Separately, Dr. Sean O’Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics,said the panel’s day-long debate involved clear efforts to sow distrust about vaccines that would have “real-time impacts on American children.”

Debates and Implications for the Health System

The advisory panel also discussed other vaccine recommendations during its meeting, including controversies related to hepatitis B vaccines and the use of MMRV for young children.

The panel’s final decision must be approved by acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill. A former investor, critic of health regulations, and Kennedy’s deputy at HHS, O’Neill recently took over as head of the agency after the firing of its Senate-confirmed director, Susan Monarez.

Several state entities have begun implementing policies to ensure access to vaccines. Additionally, health plans assured that they will continue to cover the costs of these injections.

How Childhood Vaccination Will Be Affected

Childhood COVID-19 vaccination will be affected by new individual choice recommendations, where the decision to vaccinate healthy children should be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation between healthcare providers and families.

Although the vaccine is no longer generally recommended for healthy and pregnant children, it remains on the vaccination schedule for children 6 months to 17 years of age, especially for those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised. This implies a “shared decision” approach and may affect access to the vaccine depending on whether or not insurers cover it, since the explicit recommendation influences health insurance coverage.

Coverage will continue to be guaranteed as long as the vaccine is part of the recommended vaccination schedule, but families and physicians should evaluate the benefits and risks individually for each child.