US Vaccine Panel Changes Covid-19 Recommendations

A key US vaccine advisory committee has made significant changes to its recommendations regarding Covid-19 vaccinations. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (Acip) voted to stop recommending that all adults receive the Covid-19 vaccine annually, a practice that had been in place since the pandemic began.

The committee also made changes to recommendations for other vaccines, including those for measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox). They decided to endorse separate shots for these diseases rather than a combined vaccine for young children.

These changes have sparked debate in the medical community. Some experts are concerned that the new recommendations may lead to confusion among the public. The situation has been further complicated by recent changes in leadership at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including the appointment of new committee members by Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, who has been known for his skeptical views on vaccines.