RFK Jr.'s Advisers Revise COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance, Emphasizing Individual Choice

New COVID-19 Vaccine Guidance Issued by RFK Jr.'s Advisers

Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have significantly revised the guidance for COVID-19 vaccinations in the United States. In a series of votes on Friday, September 19, 2025, the panel opted to no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for all ages, instead stating that vaccination should be an individual choice. This marks a notable departure from previous recommendations that suggested annual shots for nearly all Americans.

Shift in COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations

Previously, COVID-19 vaccinations were recommended as a routine fall measure for most Americans, akin to an annual flu vaccine. However, the newly constituted Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) declined to recommend the vaccines for anyone, including high-risk populations and seniors. The panel emphasized 'individual-based decision making' or 'shared clinical decision making' in consultation with a clinician. Additionally, the advisers urged the CDC to adopt stronger language regarding potential vaccine risks and narrowly avoided requiring a prescription for the shots.

This change follows earlier moves by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who in May 2025, announced that COVID-19 vaccines would no longer be recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had already placed new restrictions on this year's shots, reserving them for individuals over 65 or those deemed at higher risk from the virus.

Changes to Childhood Immunizations and Other Decisions

During the two-day meeting in Atlanta, the panel also addressed other immunization guidelines:

• MMRV Vaccine: The committee voted against the combined measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) vaccine for children under the age of four. Instead, they recommended that children in this age group receive separate measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and varicella (chickenpox) shots.
• Hepatitis B Vaccine: A planned vote concerning the long-standing CDC recommendation for newborns to receive a hepatitis B vaccine at birth was postponed indefinitely.

The committee further recommended that the CDC 'engages in an effort to promote more consistent and comprehensive informed consent processes,' which could involve highlighting potential 'risks and uncertainties' associated with COVID vaccines.

Context and Reactions

The changes have introduced 'confusion' into the fall's COVID-19 vaccination landscape. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who assumed the role of Health Secretary in March 2025, has been a long-standing vaccine skeptic. In June, he made a 'clean sweep' of the previous 17-member ACIP committee, replacing them with his own selections, some of whom are known for their skepticism regarding vaccine safety. Outside medical groups have expressed pushback, asserting that COVID-19 vaccines have a proven safety record. Dr. Sean O'Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics described the decision not to recommend vaccination as 'extraordinarily vague' and suggested it could 'sow distrust' about vaccines, with 'real-time impacts on American children.' Despite the federal changes, some states have indicated they will implement policies to ensure continued access to COVID-19 vaccines, and health insurers have stated they will continue to cover the shots through 2026.