Advisers to the CDC to suggest ‘narrow’ use of COVID-19 vaccine, departing from universal recommendations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) vaccine advisory committee is gearing up for a two-day meeting to discuss new recommendations, including potentially scaling back current COVID-19 vaccine guidelines. Dr. Lakshmi Panagiotakopoulos will be presenting guidance on COVID-19 vaccine use for the 2025–2026 period, proposing a “narrow” recommendation and suggesting that the department only maintain the current vaccination series for specific populations deemed high-risk.

A recent poll conducted on April 3 showed that 76% of advisors support a risk-based approach to COVID-19 vaccination recommendations for the upcoming schedule, marking a 10% increase from previous polling in February. The 70-page presentation outlines three policy options for COVID-19 vaccines, one of which involves moving away from recommending annual shots for everyone over 6 months old.

Currently, annual COVID-19 shots are recommended for individuals aged 6 months and older. The proposed policy options include continuing with the universal policy, recommending vaccines only for high-risk groups such as older adults, individuals with underlying health conditions, pregnant women, and healthcare workers, or a combination of both approaches. This would involve maintaining universal recommendations for those aged 65 and older while limiting shots for younger age groups to those at higher risk.

The presentation will also address how to define “increased risk,” taking into consideration health factors and increased exposure, such as living in long-term care facilities or working in high-contact jobs. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will review this information and vote on official recommendations to be passed on to the CDC for consideration in June.

The committee will also discuss the measles outbreak and provide an update on literature related to the reduced number of doses for the HPV vaccine. Members will vote on recommendations for Meningococcal Vaccines, Meningococcal Vaccines VFC, RSV Adult, and Chikungunya Vaccines during the meeting.

As the meeting unfolds, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is overseeing a reorganization of the CDC. Plans include transferring non-infectious disease-related divisions to the Administration for a Healthy America to focus on chronic disease management. This restructuring follows previous downsizing efforts under President Donald Trump’s administration, which resulted in a reduction of approximately 4,000 CDC employees.

Overall, the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee meeting is expected to address crucial issues surrounding COVID-19 vaccination recommendations and provide valuable insights for the future of public health policy.