Changing vaccine guidance out of the CDC
In June, RFK fired all 17 members of the ACIP, a panel that sets vaccine guidance for the nation. Replacing a panel member typically takes 2 or more years of vetting but new panel members were announced in hours and days. Vaccine guidance is changing as a result of these actions. Meaning if clinicians want to administer vaccines according to medical best practice and scientific evidence they must do so "off label." Insurance companies have historically followed CDC and FDA guidance on what they cover, but some are changing to professional organizations. Those without insurance will have to pay out of pocket as the law that guaranteed free immunizations won't cover anything not recommended by the federal agencies.
mRNA boosters against COVID19 were recommended for ages 6 months and up. In august 2025 that changed to 65 and older or those at risk of severe disease. Today all recommendations were removed, the panel contradicting itself.
MMRV or the measles mumps rubella and chickenpox vaccine was changed in September 2025 and is no longer recommended. However the panel voted to still have the vaccines for children program still cover the cost of the vaccine. This is a split that has never happened and was very confusing. Today, the panel again reversed itself and decided not to have the VCP cover it.
All the moves point towards what is described as a collaborative conversation between a doctor and a patient. Which is something people should be doing anyway, but this to me is a nudge towards transferring liability onto medical professionals to make them think twice.
The one thing that is obvious to me: these meetings are free wheeling chaos and these idiots are making it up as they go. They are dangerously unqualified and unthoughtful enough to be setting policy. The panel is collapsing under the weight of the responsibility. It is easy to make things up for a blog post or a podcast. It is a hell of a lot harder to sit in the seat and make decisions for the most vulnerable populations of a large nation.
👻 darkghost [Left leaning independent]
2025-09-19 · 8 months ago