CDC panel votes against recommending COVID-19 vaccine to most Americans

Update on Friday, 8:37 p.m.:

On Friday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee declined to recommend COVID-19 shots for most Americans this fall. U.S. health officials have previously recommended annual COVID-19 vaccines for most U.S. residents age 6 months and older. But the vaccine panel—composed of experts selected by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.—decided Friday only to recommend the vaccine to Americans age 65 and older or to those with underlying conditions. Other individuals, they said, should make their own decision about receiving the vaccine after consulting a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. The panel’s decision is only a recommendation and still must be approved by acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill. The panel also decided to postpone a vote on Hepatitis B vaccine recommendations for newborns.

Original story:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee on Thursday adopted new recommendations for the childhood immunization schedule. The group voted 8-3 to recommend that children under the age of 4 receive a separate vaccine for varicella, known as chickenpox, rather than the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella shot. Previously, the CDC schedule called for children to receive their first dose of either the combined MMRV shot, or the two separate shots, at about 12 months old. The regimen called for a second dose between the ages of 4 and 6. The committee did not change its recommendation for the combined shot for a child’s second dose, and did not go so far as to recommend against the MMRV shot altogether. Either acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill or Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will have to sign off on the change before it can take effect.

Why did the group make the recommendation? Some studies have shown a slight increased risk of febrile seizures in children aged 12-23 months within seven to 10 days of receiving the combined vaccine. Febrile seizures most often occur because of a fever and typically do not cause long-term issues and resolve on their own, according to the Mayo Clinic. Other studies found higher rates of fevers and measles-like rashes among children who received the combined shot than in those who received separate MMR and varicella vaccines given at the same time.

What else is happening with the committee? The 12-member panel was scheduled to vote Friday on new recommendations for Hepatitis B vaccines for newborns. While the vaccine is most often given to babies just after they are born, the potential changes would first have all mothers tested for Hepatitis B infection during pregnancy. Babies whose mothers test negative would not be recommended to receive the vaccine until the infant is at least 1 month old. Meanwhile, five new committee members joined the group earlier this week after Kennedy dismantled the panel in June.

Dig deeper: Read my report about the panel’s recommendations for flu shots.