A key US vaccine advisory committee has voted to stop recommending all adults get the Covid-19 vaccine, which has until now been officially approved for most Americans annually since the pandemic.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) also narrowly voted against advocating prescriptions for the Covid vaccine.
In two days of meetings, ACIP changed its recommendations on the combined measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV) vaccine, and delayed plans for a vote on the hepatitis B vaccine.
Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, a vaccine skeptic, fired all 17 members of the committee in June and handpicked their successors, sparking uproar in the medical community.
The panel spent Friday debating the Covid-19 vaccine, which has been a routine recommendation, similar to the yearly flu jab.
ACIP voted to abandon broad support for recommending the jab, including for high-risk populations like individuals aged over 65. Instead, it decided they could make their own decision after discussing with a medical professional.
In May, the federal government stopped recommending Covid-19 vaccines for healthy pregnant women and children.
During discussions, Dr. Robert Malone, an ally of Kennedy, claimed there was no evidence that the Covid vaccine prevented serious infections. In contrast, Dr. Cody Meissner argued that there was substantial data indicating the jab does protect against infections.
Confusion arose over the MMRV vaccine recommendations, with the panel previously voting against the combined MMRV shot for children aged four and under, but later endorsing separate shots for measles, mumps and rubella and for varicella.
The American Medical Association expressed concern that the new recommendations regarding MMRV vaccinations would leave parents feeling confused.
Furthermore, the panel postponed a vote on automatically administering a hepatitis B vaccine to newborns whose mothers tested negative during pregnancy, even though this vaccine has a strong track record of safety and efficacy.
Kennedy's influence on vaccination policy has been under scrutiny since he took office in January 2023, leading to significant changes within the CDC and triggering resignations among senior staff in protest.
