Overview

• COVID-19 vaccination moves to individual decision-making, with a unanimous recommendation that adults 65 and older consult a health care provider before receiving a shot.
• A proposal to require prescriptions for COVID vaccines narrowly failed, though experts caution access at pharmacies could still tighten depending on state actions and insurer policies.
• For children under 4, the panel backed separate measles‑mumps‑rubella and varicella shots, with the combined MMRV no longer recommended for that age and not covered by the Vaccines for Children program.
• The committee tabled a vote on altering the hepatitis B birth-dose recommendation but supported universal hepatitis B testing during pregnancy.
• The recommendations await CDC and HHS acceptance, as public health leaders warn of growing confusion, potential coverage changes, and shaken confidence after contentious meetings of the reconstituted panel.