Overview

• Vaccine advisers selected by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declined a universal recommendation and said individuals could decide whether to get the updated shots.
• HHS said the committee vote provides for immunization coverage through Medicaid, CHIP, marketplace plans and the federal Vaccines for Children program.
• AHIP said its member insurers will cover the vaccines at no cost through 2026, and UnitedHealthcare said it will cover them for standard commercial plans.
• A review found CVS, Walgreens, Walmart and Kroger continue to gate or discourage online bookings in multiple states that allow broader access, though staff say they will vaccinate based on self‑attestation without requiring proof.
• Sixteen states have issued orders allowing vaccination for all ages and health statuses, and pharmacies report they can vaccinate nationwide, with prescriptions still required in Washington, D.C., and in states including Florida and Georgia.