Trump-Aligned Health Panel Withholds Endorsement of COVID-19 Vaccines, Cites Risk Concerns

Trump-Backed Health Panel Declines COVID-19 Vaccine Endorsement, Cites Safety Concerns.

A federal health advisory committee aligned with former President Donald Trump has drawn criticism after refusing to recommend COVID-19 vaccine shots, citing concerns over safety and efficacy despite scientific evidence.

The Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices (ACIP), now led by members appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an outspoken vaccine sceptic, said COVID-19 vaccinations should remain a matter of “individual choice” in consultation with doctors. The panel also urged the CDC to warn patients more strongly about alleged vaccine risks.

Medical experts condemned the move. Sean O’Leary of the American Academy of Pediatrics called the meeting “like nothing I’ve ever seen,” saying discussions focused on myths and anecdotal cases rather than science. Sandra Fryhofer of the American Medical Association described it as a troubling erosion of the committee’s integrity.

Under the Trump administration, COVID-19 vaccine policies have been rolled back. The FDA now limits eligibility mainly to older adults and those with underlying conditions, while earlier this year, Kennedy announced vaccines would no longer be recommended for children and healthy pregnant women. A proposal requiring prescriptions for all COVID-19 vaccines narrowly failed in a tiebreak vote.

The meeting also sparked confusion over other vaccines. ACIP initially voted against the combined MMRV vaccine for children under four but later approved separate MMR and varicella shots. Debates continued over Hepatitis B vaccination for newborns, with final decisions postponed amid concerns about long-term health risks.