Overview

• ACIP advised that adults 65 and older receive COVID-19 vaccines only after a provider discussion and said people 6 months to 64 years may consider vaccination following consultation, while a tied vote defeated a proposal to require prescriptions.
• The committee recommended against using the combined MMRV shot before age 4, favoring separate MMR and varicella doses for younger children based on a small increased risk of febrile seizures with the combo vaccine.
• A proposal to delay the hepatitis B vaccine from birth to one month for infants of mothers who test negative was tabled after experts emphasized longstanding safety data and the protection provided by the universal birth dose.
• Follow-up motions created uncertainty about how coverage and access will align with the recommendations, leaving questions for the Vaccines for Children program, Medicaid, insurers and pharmacies.
• Medical organizations and global health experts warned the shifts could erode trust and reduce uptake, while several states and insurers signaled plans to preserve broader vaccine access despite the new guidance.