COVID-19 Vaccine Access in Limbo: New Recommendations Awaited

Tue Oct 21 2025 00:41:31 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leads a critical meeting to decide on who qualifies for updated COVID-19 vaccines amid rising infections and confusion.

As COVID-19 infections increase, frustration grows over access to updated vaccines. The CDC's advisory committee is meeting to finalize recommendations on who should receive the shots. New FDA restrictions limit eligibility to seniors and at-risk individuals. A pending decision on newborn hepatitis B vaccinations adds to the uncertainty, raising concerns among healthcare professionals about public confusion and safety.

ATLANTA (AP) — Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s advisory panel is set to meet again to address critical decisions surrounding COVID-19 vaccine access as infections rise. The panel previously delayed a vote on hepatitis B vaccines for newborns, and confusion regarding eligibility for updated COVID-19 shots is at an all-time high.

The FDA has recently limited new COVID-19 vaccines to adults over 65 and younger individuals with higher risk factors, while families scramble to understand eligibility requirements. Many fear the implications of these recommendations on insurance coverage and access to necessary vaccinations.

The committee's decisions play a pivotal role, especially for low-income families who rely on federally funded programs. It's causing just a lot of confusion for the public, said Dr. Phil Huang, a family physician.

The panel also postponed a decision on whether to end the recommendation for hepatitis B vaccinations at birth, despite pushback from health experts who emphasize the vaccine's importance in reducing infection rates among infants.

As the discussion unfolds, pediatric groups advocate for expanded COVID-19 vaccine accessibility for everyone aged six months and older, reflecting concerns about the ongoing public health threat of the virus.