New Vaccine Panel Recommends Medical Consultation Before COVID-19 Vaccinations

A newly established federal vaccine advisory panel, appointed by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has issued updated guidelines suggesting more cautious administration of COVID-19 vaccines. The panel, known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), unanimously recommended on September 22, 2025, that adults aged 65 and older should receive COVID-19 vaccinations only after consulting with their healthcare providers to discuss potential risks and benefits. For individuals aged 6 months through 64 years, vaccination may be considered, but only following a similar consultation.

This recommendation marks a significant shift from previous guidelines and appears to conflict with the current authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which permits COVID-19 shots for all adults aged 65 and older and certain younger populations with underlying health conditions. The new stance could impact how vaccines are administered nationwide, with some states likely to require doctor approval before vaccination.

The panel’s decision emphasizes the importance of personalized medical advice, moving away from the previous approach, which allowed many Americans to walk into pharmacies for doses. As Retsef Levi, who led the panel's COVID-19 working group, explained, the process should now involve a discussion between medical providers and patients, recognizing that COVID-19 has moved past the emergency status it once held.

This recent move followed the re-establishment of the ACIP earlier this year after the prior 17 members were replaced, and most of the current members are new to the committee. The decision, however, faced criticism from public health experts who warned that restricting vaccine access could lead to increased vaccine hesitancy and preventable deaths. Notably, the meeting was marked by some disagreements and heated exchanges among panel members.

While CDC staff and external healthcare organizations continue to affirm the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, the new recommendations introduce a more cautious approach, advocating for personal medical consultation. Besides COVID-19, the panel also discussed other vaccines, such as hepatitis B for newborns and a combined measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox vaccine for children, although final votes on these were postponed.

This policy shift underscores ongoing debates about vaccine strategies and highlights the importance of medical guidance in COVID-19 vaccination decisions. For further details, visit source.