CDC Ends Universal COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendation
The CDC has ended its universal COVID-19 vaccine recommendation, leaving the decision to patients and doctors. This change comes after U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appointed a new panel to review vaccine policies.
The new panel, replacing the former Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), includes eight members handpicked by Kennedy. Some of these members are known for their vaccine skepticism. Last month, this panel advised the CDC to adopt stronger language around vaccine risks, despite opposition from external medical groups.
The CDC has now adopted these recommendations. This includes ending the annual COVID-19 booster shot recommendation for all Americans ages 6 months and older, a policy that was previously in place. Instead, the CDC now urges individuals to make their own vaccination decisions, but also recommends consulting with a healthcare provider.
The CDC's decision clears the way for the Vaccines for Children program to distribute COVID-19 vaccine doses. However, medical groups have warned that this shift in policy could potentially put vulnerable individuals at greater risk.
