Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s hand-picked vaccine panel weakened Covid shot recommendations in the U.S., advising that all Americans consult a health-care provider before deciding whether to receive the vaccine. The group also voted to emphasize that the Covid vaccine is beneficial for those at high risk of severe illness from the disease. The vote comes after Kennedy appointed several vocal critics of mRNA Covid shots to the panel after ousting all previous members in June. Members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices listen to a presentation about Covid-19 during an ACIP meeting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Sept. 19, 2025. Alyssa Pointer | Reuters
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s hand-picked vaccine panel on Friday weakened Covid shot recommendations in the U.S., advising that all Americans consult a health-care provider before deciding whether to receive the vaccine.
The 12-member panel, called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, recommended that people 6 months and up receive vaccines based on so-called “shared