CDC Advisors Meet to Discuss Vaccines

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) outside expert panel began a two-day meeting on Tuesday after a nearly two-month delay, Reuters reported. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is reviewing guidelines for several vaccines including recommendations for the next generation of COVID-19 shots along with discussing the ongoing measles outbreak.

The panel also is expected to vote today about usage recommendations for several vaccines, including those for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and chikungunya, a mosquito-borne disease.

Regarding the COVID vaccine, the panel will discuss whether to narrow recommendations on who should receive shots for the 2025-2026 season to a smaller group of people. The agency currently recommends that individuals aged six months and older should be given an updated COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of previous inoculations for the disease.

The current agenda is similar to the proposed agenda for February, though it omits a vote on influenza vaccines that was on that agenda, NPR reported.

Additionally, the large cuts to CDC staff since President Trump took office include some officials who would have participated or spoken in this week’s meeting.