A group of vaccine advisers unanimously voted to end the CDC’s recommendation for Americans ages 6 months and older to receive annual COVID-19 shots. The 12-member panel, called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), said getting the COVID-19 shot should be a personal choice. The panel recommended Americans ages 6 months and older receive vaccines based on “shared clinical decision-making,” which means a patient or their guardian discusses the decision with a healthcare provider. BREAKING NEWS: A panel of U.S. vaccine advisers named by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Friday recommended that the vaccines be made available for all ages based on shared clinical decision-making with a physician. pic.twitter.com/B23jiGEwTj — NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) September 19, 2025 ABC News shared further details: The Department of Health and Human Services told ABC News federal vaccine programs will continue to cover the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention policies, and many major insurers said they would continue to cover the cost of the vaccines through at least 2026 no matter how the committee voted this week. In a separate vote, members decided not to suggest that states require a prescription for the COVID-19 vaccine, with many members saying this would create unnecessary barriers. And in another separate action, members voted that CDC communicate clear risks about COVID-19 vaccines — materials that states can choose to give to patients when they get vaccinated that list at least six of those risks. The votes follow the Food and Drug Administration’s recent narrowing of COVID-19 vaccine approvals to a smaller group of Americans — those over 65 or with underlying medical conditions. Although the FDA and CDC are sister agencies under the Department of Health and Human Services, the FDA is a regulator and CDC makes recommendations. The panel was deadlocked 6-6 on suggesting states require a prescription for the COVID-19 shot, but ACIP Chair Dr. Martin Kulldorff broke the tie. Although government-run insurance plans will still cover COVID-19 shots following the new ACIP recommendations, it’s unclear if private health insurance plans will provide coverage. ACIP members also discussed safety and efficacy concerns of the COVID-19 shot. “Most of us are extremely concerned about the safety and the lack of robust evidence both on safety and efficacy for not only pregnant women, but their babies,” ACIP member Retsef Levi commented. Check it out: ACIP member Retsef Levi, PhD on the COVID vaccine for pregnant women: “Most of us are extremely concerned about the safety and the lack of robust evidence both on safety and efficacy for not only pregnant women, but their babies.” pic.twitter.com/GQV5e9KowG — CDC (@CDCgov) September 19, 2025 CNBC noted: The vote is no surprise, as Kennedy appointed several vocal critics of mRNA Covid shots to the panel after ousting all previous members in June. During the meeting Friday, some members cast doubt on the safety and efficacy of Covid shots and mRNA technology, and questioned the reliability of data on hospitalization rates due to the virus. It also follows Kennedy’s other recent moves to change U.S. Covid vaccine policy, which have created new hurdles for some people to access vaccines, including prescription requirements in certain states. The CDC dropped Covid shot recommendations for healthy children and pregnant women, and the Food and Drug Administration approved new Covid jabs with limits on who can get them. The ability to get vaccines may vary by state: In a break from federal guidelines, four Democratic states on Wednesday recommended that broad swaths of the population receive an updated Covid shot, including “all who choose protection.”

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